dig up

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.

Example Sentences

To survive, the miners and undocumented migrants go beneath the surface to escape poverty and dig up gold to sell it on the black market.

From BBC

“He was like, ‘Wait a minute, look at these cool machines they’re using to dig up my yard,’” Angel said.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2019, Trump was impeached by the US House over accusations that he pressured Ukraine's leader to dig up damaging information on a political rival.

From BBC

In 2019, Trump was impeached by the US House over accusations that he pressured Ukraine's leader to dig up damaging information on a political rival.

From BBC

“So Vance knew it was a lie this whole time. But instead of just admitting that, he and his campaign have been scrambling to dig up new bulls**t evidence. All of which either bears no resemblance to the claims he’s made or falls apart at the slightest scrutiny.”

From Salon

Related Words

• catch
• come upon
• design
• detect
• determine
• devise
• disclose
• explore
• hear
• identify
• invent
• learn
• locate
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• realize
• recognize
• reveal
• see
• spot