weed out
To go through a group of things or people and get rid of the ones that don't belong or aren't good enough.
Meanings
To identify and remove unsuitable or inferior people from a group, especially during a selection process.
"The interview process is designed to weed out candidates who lack the necessary skills."
To identify and remove unwanted or harmful elements from a system, collection, or process.
"The new software helps weed out duplicate files from your hard drive."
To physically remove weeds from a garden or planted area.
"She spent Saturday morning weeding out the flower beds."
Used broadly in educational, professional, agricultural, and military contexts. The metaphor comes from removing weeds from a garden. Very common in both British and American English. Often used in hiring processes and quality control.
Commonly used with
Forms
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