smoke out
To make someone come out of hiding by using smoke, or to discover and expose someone who is hiding something.
Meanings
To drive a person or animal out of a hiding place by filling it with smoke.
"The soldiers smoked out the enemy forces who were sheltering in the tunnels."
To expose or reveal someone who is hiding, acting secretly, or concealing the truth.
"The investigation was designed to smoke out any officials who had taken bribes."
"We will smoke them out of their holes."
— George W. Bush, address to the nation, September 15, 2001
To fill an enclosed space with smoke.
"The burning logs smoked out the entire cabin because the flue was blocked."
The figurative sense (to expose hidden wrongdoers) is very common in political and journalistic language. George W. Bush famously used the phrase 'smoke them out' after 9/11, which reinforced its use in political discourse.
Commonly used with
Forms
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