feel for

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feel for (third-person singular simple present feels for, present participle feeling for, simple past and past participle felt for)

1. (idiomatic) To experience sympathy for, to sympathise with.

   I feel for him: he’s lost two family members in two months.

2. (idiomatic) To search for something by touching (as with one’s hand in a bag).

   He felt for his purse.

   • 1896, Stephen Wyke, The Yorkshire Cousins‎, Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Company, Limited, →OCLC, page 15:

     Harry felt for his purse in his left-hand trousers pocket, but it was not there. He then tried his right-hand trousers pocket, but it was not there. He then tested the left hand pocket of his vest, but it was not there. He then explored the right-hand pocket of his vest, but it was not there. He then darted a h and into each of the pockets of his shooting-jacket, but it was not there.

• feel sorry for

• reel off