feeling around

Verb

feel around (third-person singular simple present feels around, present participle feeling around, simple past and past participle felt around)

1. (informal) To grope; to explore an area with one's hands, usually in search of something.
   • I felt around in my pockes for my keyring in vain.

   Synonyms:

   fumble, grubble, scrabble, fish, forage, scramble, glaum, grabble, grope, poke

2. (idiomatic, informal) To gather information sneakily; to seek out information without revealing that one is actively searching for it.

   Synonyms:

   nose, snoop