Phrasal verbs with “Rake” in English

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How the Word “Rake” is Used in English

The word “rake” in English has a few distinct meanings depending on the context. Most commonly, we recognize it as a noun referring to a garden tool for gathering leaves or loosening soil. For example, if you say, “I need a rake to clean up the yard,” you’re using the straightforward, primary meaning of the word.

But “rake” can also function as a verb, meaning “to gather” or “to search through something.” For instance, “to rake the leaves” means to gather them into a pile, while “to rake through a drawer” means to search through it for something specific.

Furthermore, “rake” is commonly found in various phrasal verbs, which add additional layers of meaning. These phrasal verbs are particularly useful for conveying nuanced actions or ideas. For instance, “rake in” refers to making a substantial profit (e.g., “After starting her business, she began to rake in the money”), while “rake up” means to bring up past issues or unpleasant memories (e.g., “He always rakes up our past arguments”).

Let’s explore some of the most common phrasal verbs with “rake” in English and see how and when they can be used effectively.

Most Common Phrasal Verbs with “Rake” in English

1. Rake in – to earn a large amount of money

This phrasal verb is used to describe situations where someone is making significant income, often with minimal effort. It’s a great term for quick or easy earnings.

Example: He managed to rake in thousands of dollars from his online business.
Another Example: The movie raked in millions on its opening weekend.

2. Rake over – to review or discuss something again, particularly unpleasant events

This phrasal verb describes the act of persistently going over past events, often hindering one’s ability to move forward.

Example: She kept raking over her past mistakes instead of moving on.

3. Rake through – to search through something thoroughly

This phrase is commonly used when someone is looking for something specific amidst a collection of items.

Example: I had to rake through all the documents to find the missing file.

4. Rake off – to take a portion of profits, often by overcharging someone

This phrasal verb has a connotation of dishonesty or taking a cut of earnings, sometimes by inflating prices.

Example: Some managers rake off a percentage of every transaction.
Another Example: He got caught trying to rake off some extra money from the project’s budget.

5. Rake up – to bring up old events or issues, often for criticism

This term is frequently used to describe situations where old problems or conflicts are rehashed, typically with a negative intent.

Example: He tends to rake up old arguments whenever he is upset.
Another Example: The media keeps raking up details about the politician’s past scandals.

6. Rake it in – to earn a lot of money

This phrasal verb also pertains to making money, but with an emphasis on high profitability. It’s often used positively and implies a steady flow of earnings.

Example: Since they launched their new product, they’ve been raking it in.

Popular Phrases and Idioms with “Rake”

In addition to phrasal verbs, “rake” appears in a number of common phrases and idioms in conversational English. Let’s go over a few examples:

1. “Rake someone over the coals” – to scold or criticize someone severely

This idiom describes a scenario where someone is reprimanded harshly for their actions or mistakes, often in a way that feels like punishment.

Example: The boss really raked him over the coals for being late to the important meeting.

2. “Rake over the ashes” – to discuss or revisit past events, usually unpleasant ones

This phrase is used to convey the act of bringing up past topics that are supposedly finished but still stir up emotions or disagreements.

Example: She tends to rake over the ashes of her past relationships instead of moving on.

3. “Rake thin” – to drain or exhaust something

This phrase can mean depleting resources or wearing something out, especially when it becomes thin or overextended.

Example: Constantly buying new gadgets has raked his finances thin.