rummage
/'rʌmidʤ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A thorough, often untidy search: A "rummage" is the act of searching for something by looking through a place or container in a hurried, disorderly manner, typically causing a mess.
- A collection of miscellaneous items: "Rummage" can also refer to a jumbled assortment of old or unwanted items, often those set aside for sale.
Verb:
- To search thoroughly but untidily: To "rummage" means to search for something by moving things around in a careless or hurried way, often creating disorder.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- After a quick rummage in her handbag, she found her missing lipstick.
- The church is holding a rummage sale next Saturday.
Verb:
- He had to rummage through several boxes to find the old photo album.
- She rummaged in the drawer for a pair of scissors.
Advanced Usage
- "to have a rummage (around/through)": to spend time searching through something in an untidy way.
- I'll have a rummage through the attic and see if your old skis are there.
Variants and Related Words
- Rummage sale (n): A sale of miscellaneous second-hand items, typically for charity.
- We donated our old clothes to the school rummage sale.
Synonyms
- Noun (for the act): Search, hunt, forage.
- Noun (for the items): Jumble, clutter, odds and ends.
- Verb: Ransack, root (around), forage, hunt through.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Rummage about/around: To search untidily within a general area.
- He was rummaging about in the garage looking for his tools.
- Rummage through: To search untidily within a specific container or collection.
- She rummaged through the pile of papers on her desk.
Related Idioms
- No direct common idioms feature the word "rummage" as the key component. The word is typically used in its literal sense.
Noun
- a thorough search for something (often causing disorder or confusion)
- he gave the attic a good rummage but couldn't find his skis
- a jumble of things to be given away
Verb
- search haphazardly
- We rummaged through the drawers