dig in

Thân thiện

The children dig in to the delicious picnic spread.

Definition

1. Phrasal Verb:
   • To begin eating eagerly or with enthusiasm: To start eating food, especially a meal, with gusto or without delay.
   • To establish a defensive position by digging trenches or fortifications: To prepare and occupy a defensive military position, often by digging trenches or foxholes.
   • To adopt a stubborn or resistant position; to refuse to change one's mind or give up: (Figuratively) To become entrenched in one's opinions, plans, or situation, showing determination not to yield or be moved.

Usage Examples

• Meaning 1 (Begin eating):
  • The food looks delicious—everyone, dig in!
  • He didn't wait for the others; he just sat down and dug in.
• Meaning 2 (Establish a defensive position):
  • The soldiers were ordered to dig in and prepare for the enemy's attack.
  • They dug in on the hilltop, making it difficult for the opposing force to dislodge them.
• Meaning 3 (Adopt a stubborn position):
  • When we suggested changes, the manager just dug in and refused to listen.
  • Both sides have dug in, and negotiations have reached a stalemate.

Advanced Usage

• Imperative form for eating: Often used as a friendly command to invite people to start eating.
  • "Come on, the pizza's getting cold. Dig in!"
• "To dig one's heels in": A closely related idiom emphasizing stubborn resistance.
  • She dug her heels in and insisted on doing things her own way.

Variants and Related Words

• Dug in (adjective): Describing a state of being entrenched.
  • The company's dug-in position made compromise impossible.
• Entrench: (Verb) To establish something firmly or solidly, often in a defensive context. A more formal synonym for the figurative meaning of "dig in."

Synonyms

• For "begin eating": Tuck in, pitch in, start eating.
• For "establish a defensive position": Entrench, fortify, hole up.
• For "adopt a stubborn position": Hold one's ground, stand firm, be obstinate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Dig into:
  • To start eating (similar to "dig in"): He dug into his steak with enthusiasm.
  • To investigate or examine something thoroughly: We need to dig into the data to find the root cause.

Related Idioms

• Dig in your heels: To refuse stubbornly to change your plans or opinions.
  • Despite the pressure, he dug in his heels and wouldn't sign the contract.
• A hill to die on: (Related concept) An issue or principle on which someone is determined to stand firm, even at great cost. This is the kind of position someone "digs in" to defend.

Học thuật

Verb

1. eat heartily
   • The food was placed on the table and the children pitched in
2. occupy a trench or secured area
   • The troops dug in for the night

Từ đồng nghĩa

• pitch in
• entrench