spy out
To secretly explore or look around a place to find out what is there or what is happening
Meanings
To secretly examine or investigate a place before taking action, especially in a military or competitive context
"The soldiers were sent ahead to spy out the enemy's positions before the main force advanced."
To gather information about a situation in order to understand it better before making a decision ('spy out the land')
"She visited the conference a day early just to spy out the land and meet potential clients."
Often used in military, strategic, or competitive contexts. Slightly old-fashioned in everyday speech; 'scout out' or 'check out' are more common alternatives in informal contexts. The phrase 'spy out the land' is a well-established idiom meaning to assess a situation before acting.
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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