Cast about

No.

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/cast-about

Thanks for the link, but I'm even more confused now.

Collins say: "verb (intransitive) to make a mental or visual search ? to cast about for an idea for a book", but in my example the verb "cast about" is evidently a transitive one.

Does it do any difference?

AnonymousDoes "cast about" mean "asked" in the above sentence?

no.

It means to search (somewhat blindly, randomly and desperately) in the immediate vicinity (within his reach).

AlpheccaStars AnonymousDoes "cast about" mean "asked" in the above sentence?no.It means to search (somewhat blindly, randomly and desperately) in the immediate vicinity (within his reach).

Thanks for the explanation. In my opinion, it works if the pronoun "him" refer to "The prisoner" (a subject) but I'm not sure about it as it may mean another person, not the

Anonymous as it may mean another person,

No. "About him" = "in his vicinity, within his reach" (the reach of the prisoner)

AlpheccaStars Anonymous as it may mean another person,No. "About him" = "in his vicinity, within his reach" (the reach of the prisoner)

I see.

AnonymousIn my opinion, it works if the pronoun "him" refer to "The prisoner" (a subject) but I'm not sure about it as it may mean another person, not the prisoner himself.

It means the prisoner himself. 'cast about' is one of those expressions that doesn't always take the expected reflexive (himself), probably because you can't cast about someone else