raking
MediumInformal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The act of using a rake to gather leaves, dirt, or other debris; also figuratively, to gather or collect something in a thorough manner.
Criticizing or reprimanding someone severely; searching or scrutinizing thoroughly; achieving a large profit, especially quickly or easily.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most commonly refers to the garden tool action. Figurative uses ('raking in money', 'raking over the coals') are idiomatic and common in informal contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the literal and figurative senses similarly. 'Raking over the coals' (US) is more common than 'raking over the ashes' (UK variant).
Connotations
Neutral for literal gardening; slightly informal/colloquial for figurative financial use ('raking it in').
Frequency
Literal use is seasonal (autumn). Figurative use is consistent year-round.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
rake [OBJ] (e.g., rake the leaves)rake [OBJ] [ADJ] (e.g., rake the soil smooth)rake [PREP] [OBJ] (e.g., rake through the documents)rake [OBJ] [PARTICLE] (e.g., rake up the past)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “raking in the cash/money”
- “raking over the coals/ashes”
- “raking through the muck”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Often used figuratively to describe making large profits quickly ('The new product is raking in the revenue').
Academic
Rare; may appear in historical or agricultural contexts describing farming techniques.
Everyday
Primarily refers to the garden chore of gathering leaves or smoothing soil.
Technical
In forestry or agriculture, refers to ground preparation or firebreak creation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I spent the afternoon raking up the leaves on the lawn.
- The journalist was raking through old council records for the story.
American English
- He's out back raking the yard before winter.
- The company is raking in profits from its new streaming service.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard. Use 'rakishly' for a related but different meaning of style, not for the action of raking.)
American English
- (Not standard. Use 'rakishly' for a related but different meaning of style, not for the action of raking.)
adjective
British English
- The raking light of the sunset revealed the texture of the old wall.
- He applied a raking force to clear the path.
American English
- The detective gave him a raking glance, taking in every detail.
- A raking shot along the ship's deck caused significant damage.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My dad is raking the garden.
- We are raking the leaves into a big pile.
- After the storm, I spent hours raking twigs and branches from the grass.
- She raked the soil smooth before planting the seeds.
- The committee spent the morning raking over the financial discrepancies in the report.
- By selling those vintage toys online, he's been raking in a surprising amount of money.
- The barrister raked the witness over the coals during the cross-examination, exposing every inconsistency in their testimony.
- Archaeologists are raking through the sediment, hoping to find artifacts from the earliest settlement.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a RAKE with a KING sitting on it, using it to gather his golden coins.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLLECTION IS RAKING (gathering tangible or intangible things); SCRUTINY IS RAKING (searching thoroughly through details).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'рейкинг' (racking) – стеллажная система. Прямой перевод 'грабление' грубый и не подходит для садового контекста. Лучше 'сгребание'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'raking' with 'racking' (as in 'racking my brains').
- Using 'raking' for gentle sweeping (a rake is for heavier, coarser materials).
- Incorrect past tense 'roke' (correct is 'raked').
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does 'raking it in' typically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while leaves are common, you can rake soil, gravel, sand, or debris to smooth or gather it.
Raking is typically lighter, for surface-level gathering or smoothing. Harrowing is a heavier agricultural process that breaks up clods of earth after plowing.
Yes, in financial contexts ('raking in money') it's positive. 'Raking over the coals' (criticizing) is negative. The literal gardening use is neutral.
The tool is a 'rake'. The activity is 'raking'. A person who rakes is a 'raker' (though this is less common).