spudge around, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

spudge around v.

also spudge up

[? var. on SE push]

(US) to exert oneself, to apply oneself.

1881		S.O. Jewett Country By-Ways 49: I’ve wondered sometimes, myself, he didn’t spudge up and be somebody [DA].
1920		Scribner’s Mag. Aug. 247: If she would only spudge around, get her work done [etc.].