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rake up

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rake something up

 

1. Lit. to gather and clean up something with a rake. Would you please rake these leaves up before it rains? Please rake up the leaves.

2. to clean something up by raking. Would you rake the yard up? I will rake up the yard.

3. Fig. to find some unpleasant information. His opposition raked an old scandal up and made it public. That is ancient history. Why did you have to rake up that old story?

See also: rake, up

rake up

Revive, bring to light, especially something unpleasant, as in She was raking up old gossip. [Late 1500s]

See also: rake, up

rake up

v.

1. To collect or gather something with or as if with a rake: After I had cut the grass, I raked up the trimmings and piled them in a heap. We raked the leaves up.

2. To revive or bring something to light; uncover something: When he runs out of things to say, he rakes old stories up from his days in the army. She is sure to rake up an embarrassing story or two about me!

See also: rake, up