# scope out

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/scope-out
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To examine; to scout; to investigate.

## Examples

- Let's scope out the new store before it gets crowded.
- I need to scope out the menu before we choose a table.
- She likes to scope out the competition before the race begins.
- I went to the venue early to scope out the best seats for the concert.
- Before we sign the lease, we should scope out the neighborhood at night to see if it is quiet.
- The hikers spent the morning trying to scope out a safe path across the rocky river.
- Our manager wants us to scope out the new software to see if it helps our team work faster.
- The detectives decided to scope out the warehouse under the cover of darkness to gather evidence before the raid.

## Origin

The expression is quite possibly derived from the military practice of reconnoitring a position from a distance through a scope, such as a periscope, binoculars, or a field telescope. This etymology remains unconfirmed, suggesting the term emerged as a colloquial shorthand for the act of surveying a landscape before committing to an engagement. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.