probe around

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "probe around" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of searching or investigating something in a casual or informal manner. Example: "I decided to probe around the old library to see if I could find any hidden treasures among the dusty books."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Hopefully, I'll get enough time with one to probe around further.

Forbes

9.27pm BST 84 min: Ukraine pass and probe around the edge of the England penalty area, looking for an opening.

The Guardian - Sport

The spacecraft was designed with landing gear that could hop the probe around, but from its awkward position on its side the option is considered too risky.

The Guardian

In the course of an archaeological probe around the possible route of underground utility lines, workers came across eight graves presumed to date from the Colonial era.

The New York Times

Six sows were fitted with a catheter in the portal vein and the mesenteric artery and a flow probe around the portal vein.

Livestock Science

Approximately 4 wk after calving, 5 lactating multiparous cows were surgically equipped with a ruminal cannula, an ultrasonic flow probe around the right ruminal artery, and indwelling catheters in the right ruminal vein and the ileocolic artery.

Journal of Dairy Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

This makes studying quantum particles extremely difficult, because the moment scientists start probing around, the particles' quantum states collapse.

Huffington Post

Deep veins require probes of around 6 MHz whilst the abdominal vessels are better studied with probes of between 4 and 6 MHz.

Wikipedia

The subsequent synthesized Cy3-labeled cRNA were amplified and purified followed by hybridization in microarray with Agilent platform having 60-mer nucleotides and around 60,000 probes, representing around 30,000 genes.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

I probed around the wound.

The New Yorker

Ray was probing around his food with his fork, pushing the gravy away from the biscuits, and Weldon was flinching.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "probe around" when you want to convey a sense of informal or exploratory investigation, often without a specific target or rigid methodology. For instance, "I decided to probe around the new software to see what features it has".

Common error

Avoid using "probe around" in highly formal or professional contexts. Opt for more precise and formal alternatives like "investigate", "examine", or "research" to maintain a serious and credible tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "probe around" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, indicating an exploratory or investigatory action. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, it often implies an informal or less structured search. Example: 'Hopefully, I'll get enough time with one to "probe around" further.'

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "probe around" is a phrasal verb used to describe an informal or exploratory investigation. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct, and it's most commonly found in news, media and scientific contexts. The phrase conveys a sense of casual searching, and while generally acceptable, it should be used judiciously in formal writing where more precise alternatives like "investigate" or "explore" might be more suitable. The phrase "probe around" is deemed correct in written English, making it a useful term for expressing exploratory investigation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

look into

A more general and less intensive way of saying investigate.

check out

A more informal way to suggest investigating something.

poke about

A more casual and undirected search.

delve into

Conveys a deeper, more involved investigation.

explore in detail

Focuses on a comprehensive examination.

search meticulously

Highlights the careful and precise nature of the search.

investigate thoroughly

Emphasizes a more formal and systematic investigation.

scout about

Suggests a more exploratory and less focused search.

rummage through

Implies a disorganized search, often through cluttered items.

snoop around

Suggests a secretive or unauthorized search.

FAQs

How can I use "probe around" in a sentence?

You can use "probe around" to describe exploring or investigating something in an informal way. For example, "I'm going to probe around the garden to see if any vegetables are ready to harvest."

What can I say instead of "probe around"?

You can use alternatives like "look into", "investigate", or "explore" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "probe around"?

It's appropriate to use "probe around" in informal settings or when describing a casual investigation. In formal contexts, consider using more precise terms.

What's the difference between "probe around" and "investigate thoroughly"?

"Probe around" suggests a less structured and more exploratory approach, while "investigate thoroughly" implies a detailed and systematic examination.