dig in

Definition

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.

Verb

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