Figurative sense US from 1846.
scareup (third-person singular simple presentscares up,present participlescaring up,simple past and past participlescared up)
- To frighten (an animal, especially a game animal) into appearing from cover.
- Synonyms:drive,flush,flush out
1881,Henry David Thoreau,Early Spring in Massachusetts:Soon after, wescare up a flock of black ducks.
1913,Jack London,The Cruise of the "Snark", published2008,unnumbered page:They ranged along abreast of the Snark on either side, pouncing upon the flying-fish her forefootscared up.
2004, William Barksdale Maynard,Walden Pond,page105:In September, Henry walked Emerson's frequent route, Hosmer's-Goose Pond-Walden, and viewed the pond from the hill on the north side with the sawed pine stump atop,scaring up black ducks.
- (figuratively) Tofind orprocure (something), especially something not easily found or procured, and especially while relying on chance to provide the means.
1881, William Dean Howells,A Modern Instance, page185:“By the way,” said his friend, “let’s go over into Leopoldstadt, and see if we can’tscare up a sleigh for a little turn in the suburbs.”
- 1990,Miller's Crossing, 01:25:07
- "Scare meup somegargle, will you?"
2003, Stephanie Stein Crease,Gil Evans: Out of the Cool: His Life and Music,page 6:Gil alsoscared up other part-time jobs while in high school—delivering gas canisters and playing solo piano at tea time at the elegant Hotel Stockton.
2004, Michael Streissguth,Voices of the Country: Interviews With Classic Country Performers,page80:Now, whenever he's in Nashvillescaring up clients and I'm therescaring up stories, we hit the hillbilly circuit.
2005, Stephen J. Cannell,Cold Hit, page367:“With the current budget crunch and the Fingertip case inactive, I couldn’tscare up much enthusiasm.”
to find or get something difficult
