RIFLES THROUGH Meaning and
Definition
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To "rifles through" means to search hurriedly and with determination through a collection of objects, documents, or belongings in order to find something specific or to gather information. This expression often implies a sense of urgency or disregard for the organization or neatness of the items being searched.
When someone "rifles through" something, they typically do so in a rapid and somewhat careless manner, moving things around quickly and not necessarily putting them back in the same order. The intention is to locate a particular item or extract necessary information without taking the time for meticulous handling.
This phrase is commonly used to describe the actions of an individual going through drawers, cabinets, files, or any other storage unit, hastily sifting through the contents to find what they need. It can also refer to flipping through pages of a book, documents, papers, or folders to quickly find a specific piece of information.
The act of rifling through often entails a certain level of disregard for maintaining order or tidiness, as the person searching is focused on achieving their objective rather than maintaining the organization of the materials being rifled through.
Common Misspellings for RIFLES THROUGH
Etymology of RIFLES THROUGH
The word "rifles through" is a phrase composed of two separate elements: the verb "rifles" and the preposition "through".
The term "rifles" originates from the noun "rifle", which refers to a firearm with a long barrel and spiral grooves inside the barrel known as rifling. The verb "to rifle" originally meant to search or rummage through something quickly and with haste, much like the swift action of loading a bullet into a rifle. Over time, this particular meaning of "rifle" evolved to describe a rapid and thorough search through items or documents for information or valuables.
The preposition "through" has Old English roots and has remained largely unchanged in terms of meaning throughout history. It indicates movement or direction from one side or end to another, often implying penetration or thorough exploration.
