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3. sought

sought

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seek a knot in a bulrush

To engage in a futile task; to try to find problems where none exist. A bulrush is a grassy plant that is not prone to knots. You'd have better luck seeking a knot in a bulrush than getting those flowers to grow on such rocky soil. I read the report so many times that the boss will be seeking a knot in a bulrush to try to find errors in it.

See also: knot, seek

*much sought after

Cliché wanted or desired very much. (*Typically: be ~; become ~.) This kind of crystal is much sought after. It's very rare. Sally is a great singer. She's much sought after.

See also: after, much, sought

sought after

Also, much sought after. Very popular, in demand, as in He was much sought after as a throat specialist, particularly by singers. This expression uses the past participle of seek in the sense of "desired" or "searched for." [Late 1800s]

See also: after, sought