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draw out

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draw someone out

on someone or something and draw someone out about someone or something; draw someone out to bring out someone's private thoughts about someone or something. I tried to draw him out on this matter, but he would not say any more. I tried to draw out the speaker, but she would not elaborate on what she had said. Fred wanted to draw out information about the company's plans, but the controller had nothing to say.

See also: draw, out

draw somebody/something out

also draw out somebody/something

to persuade someone to express their thoughts and feelings She was good at drawing out young people and getting them to talk about their dreams. She worked hard to draw out all the different opinions people had.

See also: draw, out

draw something out

also draw out something

1. to make something last longer than is usual or necessary I can't see any reason to draw the investigation out any longer. She paused to draw out the suspense.

2. to completely explain something Historians have to draw out, analyze, and judge the importance of the actions of others.

See also: draw, out

draw out

1. Pull out, extract, remove, as in She drew out her pen, or Let's draw some money out of the bank. [c. 1300]

2. Prolong, protract, as in This meal was drawn out over four hours. The related expression long-drawn-out means "greatly extended or protracted," as in The dinner was a long-drawn-out affair. [1500s]

3. Induce to speak freely, as in The teacher was good at drawing out the children. [Late 1700s]

See also: draw, out

draw out

v.

1. To pull something out of some other thing: The sheriff drew a gun out of a holster. The burglar drew out a knife.

2. To lure someone or something out of some state or place: The teacher's voice drew me out of my daydream. The hunters tried to draw deer out into the open.

3. To make something longer than usual or necessary; prolong something: The emcee drew out his introduction until the performers were ready. The speaker drew the lecture out so that it would last the entire class.

4. To induce someone to speak freely: The doctor managed to draw the shy child out. The staff's kindness drew out the reserved patient.

5. To extract information from someone: The police drew out the truth from the suspect. The kids' parents drew the real story out from them.

See also: draw, out