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| Date: | 1100-1200 |
| Origin: | Perhaps from Old English dic 'ditch' |
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dig1 S3
past tense and past participle dug present participle digging
past tense and past participle dug present participle digging1 [intransitive and transitive] to move earth, snow etc, or to make a hole in the ground, using a spade or your hands
2 [transitive] to remove something, especially vegetables, from the ground using a spade : freshly dug carrots
freshly dug carrots3 [intransitive,transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put your hand into something, especially in order to search for something : She dug around in her bag for a pen. He dug his hands deep into his pockets.
She dug around in her bag for a pen.He dug his hands deep into his pockets.5 to use something which you have, especially money or effort, which you would not normally need : With one man sent off, the team had to dig deep and hang on for a draw.
dig deep
With one man sent off, the team had to dig deep and hang on for a draw.6 to get yourself into a difficult situation by doing or saying the wrong thing
dig a hole for yourself
also dig yourself into a hole9 [transitive] old-fashioned to like something : I dig that hat!
I dig that hat!dig in
phrasal verb1 to mix something into soil by digging : Dig some fertiliser into the soil first.
dig something ↔ in
also dig something into somethingDLGDig some fertiliser into the soil first.2 also dig (something) into something to push a hard or pointed object into something, especially someone's body, or to press into something : She dug her finger nails into his arm. I could feel one of the hooks digging in.
She dug her finger nails into his arm. dig something ↔ in He dug his spurs in and urged his horse on.
He dug his spurs in and urged his horse on.I could feel one of the hooks digging in.3PMA if a group of people, especially soldiers, dig in, they make a protected place for themselves or prepare for a difficult situation : The troops dug in along the defensive line. We just have to dig in and hope we can turn things around.
The troops dug in along the defensive line.We just have to dig in and hope we can turn things around.4 also dig into something informalDF to start eating food that is in front of you : Go on - dig in! He was already digging into his pie and chips.
Go on - dig in!He was already digging into his pie and chips.dig into something
phrasal verb1 to start using a supply of something, especially money : I'm going to have to dig into my savings again.
I'm going to have to dig into my savings again.dig something ↔ out
phrasal verb1 to get something out of earth, snow etc using a spade or your hands
2 to find something you have not seen for a long time, or that is not easy to find : I must remember to dig out that book for you.
I must remember to dig out that book for you.dig something ↔ up
phrasal verb1 to remove something from the earth using a spade : I'll dig up that plant and move it.
I'll dig up that plant and move it.2 to remove the surface of an area of ground, road etc, or to make holes in it : They're digging up the road just outside my flat.
They're digging up the road just outside my flat.3 to find hidden or forgotten information by careful searching : They tried to dig up something from his past to spoil his chances of being elected.
They tried to dig up something from his past to spoil his chances of being elected.