worry an animal out of
worry an animal out of something
to pester an animal until it leaves something or some place. The cat finally worried the mouse out of its hole and caught it. We worried the squirrel out of the attic by making lots of noise.
See also: animal, of, out, worry
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- in the here and now
- the here and now
- a dead cat on the line
- at rest
- be in a spin
- be down to the wire
- be in a stew
- (one) will have (someone or something) for breakfast
- tear (one's) hair out
- be tearing your hair out