scare up

present singular third person scares up · participle present scaring up · participle past scared up · past scared up

1. To frighten (an animal, especially a game animal) into appearing from cover.

   Soon after, we scare up a flock of black ducks.

   1881, Henry David Thoreau, Early Spring in Massachusetts

   2 more examples

   They ranged along abreast of the Snark on either side, pouncing upon the flying-fish her forefoot scared up.

   1913, Jack London, The Cruise of the "Snark", published 2008, unnumbered page

   In September, Henry walked Emerson's frequent route, Hosmer's-Goose Pond-Walden, and viewed the pond from the hill on the north side with the sawed pine stump atop, scaring up black ducks.

   2004, William Barksdale Maynard, Walden Pond, page 105

   Synonyms: drive, flush, flush out

2. figurativelyTo find or procure (something), especially something not easily found or procured, and especially while relying on chance to provide the means.

   Scare me up some gargle, will you?

   1990, Miller's Crossing, 01:25:07

   4 more examples

   “By the way,” said his friend, “let’s go over into Leopoldstadt, and see if we can’t scare up a sleigh for a little turn in the suburbs.”

   1881, William Dean Howells, A Modern Instance, page 185

   Gil also scared up other part-time jobs while in high school—delivering gas canisters and playing solo piano at tea time at the elegant Hotel Stockton.

   2003, Stephanie Stein Crease, Gil Evans: Out of the Cool: His Life and Music, page 6

   Now, whenever he's in Nashville scaring up clients and I'm there scaring up stories, we hit the hillbilly circuit.

   2004, Michael Streissguth, Voices of the Country: Interviews With Classic Country Performers, page 80

   “With the current budget crunch and the Fingertip case inactive, I couldn’t scare up much enthusiasm.”

   2005, Stephen J. Cannell, Cold Hit, page 367