1
general::
Forage about in an effort to obtain something at no cost, as in We scrounged around their kitchen looking for a snack. It derives from the dialectal scrunge, "steal." [Colloquial; c. 1900]
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): scrounge around (for someone or something)
Fig. to look around all over for someone or something. • I scrounged around for Jamie, but she was nowhere to be found. • I will try to scrounge around for a replacement part that will do the job.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs