Idiom Breakdown

flush out

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Definition

To drive out or expose something or someone, as a game bird or other game animal from cover.

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"The dogs flushed out some doves."
"The army flushed out the enemy spy."
"At that time a Special Investigative Unit (SIU) was set up to initiate a witch-hunt against homosexuals in government. So the SIU established this big file on homosexuals in government. Of course the real purpose was to flush out dissident civil servants, using homosexuality as an excuse. It was used as a political weapon by those who wielded power to get rid of their antagonists and their enemies."
"Fingers and Thumbs immediately started rushing around, wielding their iron bars as if going into battle. They whacked everything in sight – bushes, bins, even the burnt-out burger van – in an effort to flush out whoever had hurt their glorious leader."

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