scrounge out
C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To find or get something by searching carefully or asking around, especially when it's hard to find
Literal meaning: To scrounge (beg/forage) something out of a place — the 'out' particle suggests extraction from a source
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
informal
To obtain something by persistent begging or opportunistic searching, especially from an unlikely source
"She managed to scrounge out a couple of aspirin from someone at the office."
Grammar: separable
2 C1 informal
To extract or retrieve something from a messy or difficult-to-access place
"He scrounged out an old charger from the bottom of his bag."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Relatively rare and informal. Implies resourcefulness mixed with desperation. Mostly encountered in British informal speech. Less common than 'scrounge up'.
Commonly used with
food money ticket cigarette change
Forms
Base
scrounge out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scrounges out
he/she/it
Past simple
scrounged out
yesterday
Past participle
scrounged out
have + pp
-ing form
scrounging out
continuous
Understand "scrounge out" better
Try:
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Synonyms
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "scrounge out" on Looplines