hunt down

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hunt down

The dogs hunt down a deer in the forest.

Definition

Verb: 1. To pursue and capture or kill: To search for, chase, and ultimately catch or kill a person or animal, often with determination and effort. This can refer to literal hunting of animals or the figurative pursuit of a person. 2. To search determinedly for something until it is found: To look for something persistently until it is located or obtained.

Usage and Examples
  • Literal (pursuing an animal):
    • The pack of wolves worked together to hunt down the injured elk.
    • For centuries, humans have hunted down whales for their oil and meat.
  • Figurative (pursuing a person or thing):
    • The police were determined to hunt down the escaped convict.
    • She spent hours in the library hunting down the original source for the quotation.
    • I need to hunt down my keys; I can't find them anywhere.
Advanced Usage
  • "to hunt someone/something down": This phrasal verb structure emphasizes the process of a determined search that ends in capture, discovery, or elimination.
    • The software update is designed to hunt down and remove viruses from the system.
    • The journalist made it his mission to hunt down the truth behind the scandal.
Variants and Related Words
  • Hunt (verb): The base form, meaning to chase and kill wild animals for food or sport, or to search for something.
    • They hunt in the forest every autumn.
  • Hunter (noun): A person or animal that hunts.
    • The lion is an apex predator and a skilled hunter.
  • Manhunt (noun): An organized, intensive search for a person, especially a criminal.
    • A massive manhunt was launched after the prison break.
Synonyms
  • Track down: To find someone or something by searching for evidence of their path or location.
  • Run down: To chase and catch someone or something (often informal).
  • Capture: To take someone as a prisoner or to take an animal into possession.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Hunt for: To search for something. This focuses more on the searching action rather than the final capture.
    • I'm hunting for a new apartment. (Compare with: I won't stop until I hunt down the perfect apartment.)
  • Hunt out: To find something by searching, especially something that is hidden or not easily found.
    • He hunted out some old photographs from the attic.
Related Idioms
  • Witch hunt: A campaign directed against a person or group holding unorthodox or unpopular views, often based on spurious allegations.
    • The senator dismissed the investigation as a political witch hunt.
hunt down

The dogs hunt down a deer in the forest.

Verb
  1. pursue for food or sport (as of wild animals)
    • Goering often hunted wild boars in Poland
    • The dogs are running deer
    • The Duke hunted in these woods

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