cast about (for (something))

to try to find something.

She spent years casting about for a career before she opened her own restaurant.

Etymology: based on the idea of someone who fishes by casting (= throwing) a line or net in first one pool of water and then another

• have sights set on doing something
• have sights set on something
• have someone by the balls
• have someone by the short and curlies
• have someone dead to rights
• have someone down on like a ton of bricks
• have someone down on you like a ton of bricks
• have someone in corner
• have someone in sights
• have someone in stitches
• have someone in the palm of hand
• have someone in the palm of your hand
• have someone in your corner
• have someone in your sights
• have someone on a short leash
• have someone on a string
• have someone on a tight leash
• have someone on hand
• have someone on hands
• have someone on the run
• have someone on your hands
• have someone over a barrel
• have someone pegged
• have someone rolling in the aisles
• have someone's ear