root about

English edit

root about (third-person singular simple present roots about, present participle rooting about, simple past and past participle rooted about)

(of a pig, literal) To forage by poking the snout here and there.
To search for something in a similar manner.
- 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 271:
  Besides, the father would not give him leave to go, for he said it was no use his trying, who had so little sense; all he could do was to sit in a corner on the hearth, like a cat, rooting about in the ashes and cutting chips.
(figuratively) To rummage; to look for something in a somewhat aimless fashion.
I'm rooting about for ideas for a novel

As with most phrases which can contain both around and about, root around is more common in US usage and root about more common in the UK.

(figuratively) to rummage