dig into
Definition
- Phrasal Verb:
- To begin eating something with enthusiasm: To start consuming food, especially eagerly or heartily.
- To investigate or examine something thoroughly: To delve into a subject, task, or physical substance to explore, analyze, or understand it deeply.
Usage Examples
- Literal (Eating):
- As soon as the food arrived, the hungry children dug into their meals.
- He dug into the delicious cake without hesitation.
- Figurative (Investigating/Examining):
- The detective dug into the old case files, looking for new clues.
- She dug into the research data to find the source of the error.
- The journalist promised to dig into the corruption allegations.
Advanced Usage
- "to dig into one's savings/pocket": To use one's own money, especially reluctantly or out of necessity.
- To pay for the emergency repairs, they had to dig into their savings.
- "to dig into a task": To start working on something with determination and energy.
- With the deadline approaching, the team dug into the final phase of the project.
Variants and Related Words
- Dig (verb): The base verb meaning to break up and move earth, or to search for information.
- Dig in (phrasal verb): Often used interchangeably with "dig into" for beginning to eat, or to establish a defensive position.
Synonyms
- Tuck into (for eating).
- Delve into, probe, investigate, examine (for investigating).
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Dig up: To find or discover information, often after searching.
- Reporters managed to dig up some scandalous details from his past.
- Dig out: To remove something by digging, or to find something that was hidden or forgotten.
- I need to dig out my winter coat from the back of the closet.
Related Idioms
- Dig deep: To make a great effort, especially to find resources (like money, courage, or energy).
- We'll have to dig deep if we want to win this game.
- Dig one's heels in: To refuse to change one's mind or course of action.
- Despite the opposition, the manager dug his heels in and kept his policy.
Verb
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examine physically with or as if with a probe
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probe an anthill
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