1
general::
Phrase(s): dig someone or something in something
to poke someone or something in something, such as the ribs, the side, the cheek, etc. • He dug Wally in the ribs as he finished telling the joke. • Jed dug the cow in its side with a stick, trying to make it move into the barn., Phrase(s): dig in(to something)
1. Lit. to use a shovel to penetrate a mass of something. • He dug into the soft soil and made a hole for the roots of the bush. • He grabbed a shovel and dug in where he thought the tree ought to go. 2. Fig. to begin to process something; to go to work on something. • I have to dig into all these applications today and process at least half of them. • Jed got out the stack of unanswered mail and dug in. 3. Fig. to begin to eat food. • We dug into the huge pile of fried chicken. • I stuck the corner of my napkin in my collar and dug in.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
1. Excavate trenches to defend one-self in battle and hold one's position, as in The battalion dug in and held on. This usage gained currency in the trench warfare of World War I. [Mid-1800s] 2. Also, dig in one's heels. Adopt a firm position, be obstinate and unyielding. For example, Arthur refused to argue the point and simply dug in, or The dog dug in its heels and refused to move. [Colloquial; late 1800s] 3. Begin to work intensively, as in If we all dig in it'll be done before dark. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s] 4. Also, dig into. Begin to eat heartily, as in Even before all the food was on the table they began to dig in, or When the bell rang, the kids all dug into their lunches. [Colloquial; early 1900s]
American Heritage Idioms