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dig into

B1 neutral transitive
In simple words

To really look deeply into something to find out more, or to start eating your food.

Literal meaning: To use a spade or similar tool to move into a specific material.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic neutral

To investigate something thoroughly and in depth.

"The committee dug into the company's accounting records and found serious irregularities."

2 A2 idiomatic informal

To start eating food with energy and enthusiasm.

"He sat down and dug into the enormous plate of pasta."

3 B1 neutral

Of something physical: to press or cut into a surface or body part, causing discomfort.

"The straps of her bag were digging into her shoulder."

4 B2 idiomatic neutral

To use money from savings or a reserve fund.

"We had to dig into our savings to cover the repair costs."

Usage notes

Very common in investigative journalism, academic, and business language for thorough investigation. Also common informally for food. The physical sense (something digging into skin or flesh) is also widely used.

Commonly used with

savings details past reserves data steak

Forms

Base
dig into
I/you/we/they
3rd person
digs into
he/she/it
Past simple
diged into
yesterday
Past participle
diged into
have + pp
-ing form
diging into
continuous

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