dip into

British  

verb

1. to draw (upon)

   he dipped into his savings

2. to read (passages) at random or cursorily in (a book, newspaper, etc)

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dip into Idioms  

1. Investigate superficially, as in He began to dip into Chaucer , or She's just dipping into psychology . This expression alludes to plunging briefly into a liquid. [Late 1600s]

2. Withdraw something in small amounts, usually money, as in I'll have to dip into my savings . This usage employs dip into in the sense of plunging one's hand or a ladle into a pot, water, or the like for the purpose of taking something out. [Early 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Oracle has had to dip into financing markets, including a $25 billion February debt sale that followed an $18 billion in September offerings.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Wander through Sundance Square, dip into a bar or two if that’s your thing, and don’t be surprised if your trip ends up feeling packed — in the best way — even midweek.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Spurs legend Glenn Hoddle has also suggested he would be interested, but once again this would be a dip into the distant past.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

“We have incredible landlords, they’re magical, so they’re really letting us dip into it and really steward the land as if it’s our own and go wild with it. Which is really cool,” she said.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026

Several times a day, the guerrillas would stop to rest, and dip into a dirty cloth bag holding cooked rice mixed with some kind of fish or meat.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge