poke about
To investigate, search through, or snoop around something or some place. Please tell me that the cops won't find any incriminating evidence if they start poking about your office. The boss has been poking about this morning. She wants to know how far along we are on the project.
poke about (in something)
and poke around (in something)to rummage around in something or some place; to look through things in something or some place. I'll have to go up and poke about in the attic to see if lean find it. Janet went to the attic and spent the rest of the afternoon poking around.