1
general::
Phrase(s): dig someone or something up
Fig. to go to great effort to find someone or something. (There is an implication that the thing or person dug up is not the most desirable, but is all that could be found.) • Mary dug a date up for the dance next Friday. • I dug up a recipe for roast pork with pineapple. • I dug up a carpenter who doesn’t charge very much., Phrase(s): Dig up!
Sl. Listen carefully! • John: All right, you guys! Dig up! You’re going to hear this one time and one time only! • Bill: Dig up! I’m only going to say this once. Bob: What was that? Bill: I said listen!
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
1. Search out, find, obtain, as in I'm sure I can dig up a few more supporters. [Mid-1800s] 2. Dig up some dirt or the dirt. Find derogatory information about someone or something. For example, The editor assigned him to dig up all the dirt on the candidates. The slangy use of the noun dirt for "embarrassing or scandalous information" dates from about 1840, but this metaphoric expression is a century newer.
American Heritage Idioms