# rake over

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rake-over
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to talk or think about something bad that happened in the past. You use this when someone keeps bringing up old problems that are better to forget.

For teachers: to examine or discuss past events or grievances in exhaustive detail, especially when doing so is distressing or redundant. Transitive; typically takes objects such as 'the past', 'old ground', or 'memories'.

## Examples

- There is no need to rake over our old arguments tonight.
- The biography was criticized for raking over the details of the actor's private life long after his death.
- The committee spent hours raking over the evidence from the previous year, searching for a single inconsistency that might justify reopening the investigation.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He kept raking over about his old mistakes." but "He kept raking over his old mistakes." — the verb is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'about'.

## Usage notes

- usually takes a direct object representing a past event or a collection of memories.
- Teaching tip: anchor the meaning with the physical image of raking through cold ashes or soil to find something; this helps students visualize the 'searching' aspect of the verb.

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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.