muck-rake

A farmer uses a muck-rake to clean the animal pen.

Definition

1. Verb:

   • To search for and expose scandalous or corrupt information: "muck-rake" means to investigate and publicize alleged misconduct, especially in politics or business, with the intent of revealing wrongdoing.

2. Noun (less common):

   • A tool for raking muck: "muck-rake" historically refers to a rake used for collecting manure, mud, or other refuse from stables or fields.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • The journalist was known to muck-rake relentlessly, uncovering secrets that embarrassed the government. (To search for and expose scandal.)
  • Critics accused the tabloid of using the story to muck-rake for profit. (To engage in sensationalist exposure of misconduct.)

• Noun:

  • The farmer used a muck-rake to clean out the pigsty. (A tool for raking refuse.)

Advanced Usage

• "to muck-rake for a cause": to investigate and expose scandals with a specific moral or political purpose.

  • The activist group decided to muck-rake the corporation's environmental violations. (To uncover and publicize wrongdoing for a moral objective.)

• "muck-raking journalism": a style of reporting focused on uncovering corruption and scandal.

  • The early 20th century saw the rise of muck-raking journalism in the United States. (Investigative reporting that exposes misconduct.)

Variants and Related Words

• Muck-raker (n): a person who engages in muck-raking, especially a journalist or activist.

  • He was a famous muck-raker who targeted political corruption. (An investigator of scandals.)

• Muck-raking (n/adj): the practice of searching for and exposing scandalous information.

  • Muck-raking became a popular technique in investigative reporting. (The activity of exposing misconduct.)

Synonyms

• Expose: to reveal hidden information, often of a damaging nature.
• Investigate: to examine thoroughly for facts, especially in a journalistic context.
• Uncover: to find and bring to light something hidden.

Phrasal Verbs

• Muck-rake up: to dig up and bring to public attention old scandals or forgotten misdeeds.
  • The reporter tried to muck-rake up the politician's past financial troubles. (To revive and expose past misconduct.)

Related Idioms

• "To rake over the coals": to reprimand or criticize someone harshly.

  • The committee raked the CEO over the coals for the accounting errors. (To scold severely, though not directly synonymous with muck-raking.)

• "To stir up the mud": to bring up unpleasant or controversial matters.

  • By muck-raking, he was stirring up the mud of old scandals. (To agitate and revive hidden issues.)