dig

dig

I

dig¹ S2 /dɪɡ/ verb (past tense and past participle dug /dʌɡ/, present participle digging)1. [intransitive and transitive] to move earth, snow etc, or to make a hole in the ground, using a spade or your hands
    dig a hole/trench/grave etc
    They dig a small hole in the sand to bury their eggs.
    dig down
    Dig down about 6 inches.
    dig for
    birds digging for worms
2. [transitive] to remove something, especially vegetables, from the ground using a spade:
    freshly dug carrots
3. [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.
4. dig your heels in to refuse to do something in spite of other people’s efforts to persuade you
5. dig deep 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.
6. dig a hole for yourself (also dig yourself into a hole) to get yourself into a difficult situation by doing or saying the wrong thing
7. dig somebody out of trouble/a mess/a hole etc to help a person or organization get out of trouble
8. dig your own grave to do something that will cause serious problems for you in the future
9. [transitive] old-fashioned to like something:
    I dig that hat!
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ dig to make a hole in the ground using your hands, a tool, or a machine: Some workmen were digging a trench at the side of the road. | In Africa, the people know where to dig for water.
   ▪ make a hole to dig a hole in the ground, using your hands or a tool: Make a hole just big enough for the plant’s roots.
   ▪ burrow /ˈbʌrəʊ $ ˈbɜːroʊ/ if an animal burrows, it makes a hole or a passage in the ground by digging the earth with its feet, nose etc: The rabbits had burrowed a hole under the fence.
   ▪ plough British English, plow American English /plaʊ/ to turn over the soil using a machine or a tool pulled by animals, to prepare the soil for planting seeds: The farmers here still plough their fields using buffaloes.
   ▪ excavate /ˈekskəveɪt/ formal to dig a large hole in the ground, especially as a preparation for building something: The men began excavating the hole for the pool.
   ▪ bore to make a deep round hole in the ground using a special machine, especially in order to look for oil or water: Companies need a special licence to bore for oil.
     
dig in phrasal verb
  1. dig something ↔ in (also dig something into something) to mix something into soil by digging:
    Dig some fertilizer 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 fingernails into his arm.
    dig something ↔ in
    He dug his spurs in and urged his horse on.
    I could feel one of the hooks digging in.
  3. 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.
  4. (also dig into something) informal to start eating food that is in front of you:
    Go on – dig in!
    He was already digging into his pie and chips.
dig into something phrasal verb
  1. to start using a supply of something, especially money:
    I’m going to have to dig into my savings again.
  2. to try to find out about something unknown or secret:
    He had been digging into her past. ⇨ dig in
dig something ↔ out phrasal verb
  1. to get something out of earth, snow etc using a spade or your hands
    dig something ↔ out of
    We had to dig the car out of a snow drift.
  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.
dig something ↔ up phrasal verb
  1. to remove something from the earth using a spade:
    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.
  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.

II

dig² noun [countable]
1. a joke or remark that you make to annoy or criticize someone
    dig at
    He couldn’t resist a dig at the referee.
    Here was a chance to have a dig at trade unionists.
2. give somebody a dig to push someone quickly and lightly with your finger or elbow:
    Ginnie gave her sister a dig in the ribs.
3. an organized process of digging in order to find ancient objects for study:
    an archaeological dig
4. digs [plural] British English old-fashioned a room that you pay rent to live in
    in digs
    He’s 42 and still living in digs.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ comment something that you say or write in order to give your opinion: Does anyone have any comments? | Readers are invited to send in their comments and suggestions.
   ▪ remark something that you say: Just ignore them if they start making rude remarks. | I’m not sure what he meant by that last remark.
   ▪ point something that someone mentions about a subject in a discussion, argument, article etc: That’s an interesting point, Steve. | He raises (=mentions) a number of important points in his paper.
   ▪ observation a comment in which you say what you think or have noticed about something: Karl Marx made the observation that history repeats itself first as tragedy, second as farce.
   ▪ aside a comment made in a low voice, that you intend only certain people to hear: ‘Is that true?’, she whispered in an aside to Don.
   ▪ quip /kwɪp/ a clever and amusing comment: She knew she should reply with some light-hearted quip.
   ▪ dig informal a comment you make to annoy or criticize someone: I’m tired of her little digs at me.
   ▪ taunt /tɔːnt $ tɒːnt/ a comment intended to make someone angry or upset: The fans made racist taunts throughout the game.