dig
verb/dɪɡ/
/dɪɡ/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they dig | /dɪɡ/ /dɪɡ/ |
| he / she / it digs | /dɪɡz/ /dɪɡz/ |
| past simple dug | /dʌɡ/ /dʌɡ/ |
| past participle dug | /dʌɡ/ /dʌɡ/ |
| -ing form digging | /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/ /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to make a hole in the ground or to move soil from one place to another using your hands, a tool or a machine
- I think I'll do some digging in the garden.
- dig + adv./prep. They dug deeper and deeper but still found nothing.
- We could only dig down a few feet.
- dig for something to dig for gold/treasure
- dig something to dig a hole/trench/grave
- (British English) I've been digging the garden.
- dig something + adv./prep. They had obviously dug special tunnels beneath the city.
- The present entrance was dug through the soft limestone.
Extra ExamplesTopics Gardensb2- They were digging for buried treasure.
- We found ourselves digging through solid clay.
- We'll have to dig deep to get at the roots.
- a freshly dug grave
- digging the foundations of a new hotel
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- deep
- deeply
- down
- …
- for
- into
- through
- …
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- [transitive] dig something to remove something from the ground with a tool
- I'll dig some potatoes for lunch.
- [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to search in something in order to find an object in something
- I dug around in my bag for a pen.
- [transitive] dig something (old-fashioned, slang) to approve of or like something very much
Word OriginMiddle English: perhaps from Old English dīc ‘ditch’.
Idioms
See dig in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee dig in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishdig deep (into something)
- to search for information in a careful and detailed way
- You'll need to dig deep into the records to find the figures you want.
- to try hard to provide the money, equipment, etc. that is needed
- We're asking you to dig deep for the earthquake victims.
dig the dirt | dig up dirt (on somebody)
- to discover and reveal information about somebody that could damage them
- They hired private investigators to dig up dirt on their political opponents.
- She has come to dig the dirt on her old rival.
dig your heels/toes in
- to refuse to do something or to change your mind about something
- They dug in their heels and would not lower the price.
dig (deep) in/into your pocket(s), savings, etc.
- to spend a lot of your own money on something
dig somebody in the ribs
- to push your finger or your elbow into somebody’s side, especially to attract their attention
dig your own grave | dig a grave for yourself
- to do something that will have very harmful results for you
dig yourself into a hole
- to get yourself into a bad situation that will be very difficult to get out of
Check pronunciation:
dig