Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sudden, sharp poke or thrust: The act of touching someone abruptly, usually with a finger, elbow, or a pointed object.
   • An archaeological excavation: The site or activity of carefully uncovering historical or prehistoric remains from the earth.
   • A critical or sarcastic remark: A pointed, often witty, comment intended to criticize or mock someone.
   • A small indentation or gouge: A minor hollow or mark made by pressure or a sharp object.

2. Verb:

   • To break up, turn over, or remove earth: To use a tool or one's hands to move soil, sand, etc., creating a hole or trench.
   • To extract by digging: To remove something from the ground by digging.
   • To thrust or poke sharply: To jab something into something else.
   • To search for or investigate thoroughly: To look for information or objects by careful searching or research.
   • To like, appreciate, or understand (informal): To enjoy or comprehend something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She gave him a friendly dig in the ribs to get his attention.
  • The archaeologist spent the summer at the dig in Egypt.
  • His comment was a mean dig about my cooking skills.
  • There's a small dig in the cover of this old book.

• Verb:

  • We need to dig a hole to plant this tree.
  • They dig for coal in these mountains.
  • He dug his hands deep into his pockets.
  • Reporters tried to dig up the truth about the scandal.
  • I really dig this new song! (informal)

Advanced Usage

• "to dig deep": To make a great effort, especially mentally or financially.

  • We'll have to dig deep to find a solution to this problem.
  • Please dig deep and donate to the charity.

• "to dig one's own grave": To do something that will cause serious problems for oneself in the future.

  • By lying to his boss, he is digging his own grave.

• "to dig in one's heels": To refuse to change one's mind or course of action.

  • When it came to the budget, she dug in her heels and refused to compromise.

Variants and Related Words

• Digger (n): A person or machine that digs.

  • The digger excavated the foundation for the new building.

• Diggings (n, plural, informal): Living quarters or accommodations.

  • He invited us back to his diggings for a coffee.

Synonyms

• Verb: Excavate, delve, burrow, probe, investigate.
• Noun: Jab, poke, excavation, site, gibe, insult.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Dig in: To start eating eagerly; to establish a defensive position.

  • The food's ready, everyone dig in!
  • The soldiers were ordered to dig in and prepare for an attack.

• Dig into: To start eating; to begin to work on or investigate something thoroughly.

  • He dug into the pie with gusto.
  • We need to dig into these financial records.

• Dig out: To find something after searching, especially something old or forgotten.

  • I managed to dig out my old passport from the drawer.

• Dig up: To remove something from the ground by digging; to discover information.

  • They dug up the old tree stump.
  • The journalist dug up some shocking facts.

Related Idioms

• Dig yourself out of a hole: To extricate yourself from a difficult situation.

  • After the failed project, he worked hard to dig himself out of a hole.

• A dig in the ribs: A nudge, often meant as a playful or secret signal.

  • He gave me a dig in the ribs when our friend told the embarrassing story.

Noun

1. the act of touching someone suddenly with your finger or elbow
   • she gave me a sharp dig in the ribs
2. the act of digging
   • there's an interesting excavation going on near Princeton
3. a small gouge (as in the cover of a book)
   • the book was in good condition except for a dig in the back cover
4. an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect
   • his parting shot was `drop dead'
   • she threw shafts of sarcasm
   • she takes a dig at me every chance she gets
5. the site of an archeological exploration
   • they set up camp next to the dig

Verb

1. get the meaning of something
   • Do you comprehend the meaning of this letter?
2. poke or thrust abruptly
   • he jabbed his finger into her ribs
3. remove the inner part or the core of
   • the mining company wants to excavate the hillside
4. thrust down or into
   • dig the oars into the water
   • dig your foot into the floor
5. remove, harvest, or recover by digging
   • dig salt
   • dig coal
6. work hard
   • She was digging away at her math homework
   • Lexicographers drudge all day long
7. create by digging
   • dig a hole
   • dig out a channel
8. turn up, loosen, or remove earth
   • Dig we must
   • turn over the soil for aeration