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What is "to dig in"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
To dig in

Dig \Dig\ (d[i^]g), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dug (d[u^]g) or Digged (d[i^]gd); p. pr. & vb. n. Digging. -- Digged is archaic.] [OE. diggen, perh. the same word as diken, dichen (see Dike, Ditch); cf. Dan. dige to dig, dige a ditch; or (?) akin to E. 1st dag. [root]67.]

  1. To turn up, or delve in, (earth) with a spade or a hoe; to open, loosen, or break up (the soil) with a spade, or other sharp instrument; to pierce, open, or loosen, as if with a spade.

    Be first to dig the ground.
    --Dryden.

  2. To get by digging; as, to dig potatoes, or gold.

  3. To hollow out, as a well; to form, as a ditch, by removing earth; to excavate; as, to dig a ditch or a well.

  4. To thrust; to poke. [Colloq.]

    You should have seen children . . . dig and push their mothers under the sides, saying thus to them: Look, mother, how great a lubber doth yet wear pearls.
    --Robynson (More's Utopia).

  5. To like; enjoy; admire. The whole class digs Pearl Jam. To dig down, to undermine and cause to fall by digging; as, to dig down a wall. To dig from, To dig out of, To dig out, To dig up, to get out or obtain by digging; as, to dig coal from or out of a mine; to dig out fossils; to dig up a tree. The preposition is often omitted; as, the men are digging coal, digging iron ore, digging potatoes. To dig in,

    1. to cover by digging; as, to dig in manure.

    2. To entrench oneself so as to give stronger resistance; -- used of warfare or negotiating situations.

      to dig in one's heels To offer stubborn resistance.

Usage examples of "to dig in".

He'd wanted to dig in his roots, as he'd never been able to do as a child, and provide places for others to do the same.

Button-Bright got a stick and began to dig in the earth, and the others watched him for a while in deep thought.

The skin of all dragonkind was tougher than good leather - he had to dig in with the massive ring he wore on his middle finger before the firedrake arched its back and preened itself.

She'd have to dig in, dig deep to find the energy and purpose she'd need to face the day.