to track down
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to track down
To find or track down someone or something that was hidden, lost, or unknown. This expression is almost always used as a fixed phrase.
Die Polizei konnte den Täter nach langer Suche ausfindig machen.
After a long search, the police were able to track down the perpetrator.
The adverb 'ausfindig' is closely related to the verb 'finden' (to find). It describes the result of a successful search in which something hidden or lost is tracked down.
Es war nicht leicht, seine neue Adresse ausfindig zu machen.
It was not easy to track down his new address.
'Ausfindig' is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'jemanden/etwas ausfindig machen' (to track someone/something down). The expression means to find someone or something through a targeted search.
Die Journalistin konnte den geheimen Informanten ausfindig machen.
The journalist was able to track down the secret informant.
In the expression 'ausfindig machen' (to track down), 'ausfindig' behaves in the sentence like a separable prefix. In a main clause, it stands at the end, and in the perfect tense it comes directly before 'gemacht'.
Der Detektiv macht den Zeugen ausfindig.
The detective tracks down the witness.
