dig out
Idioms-
Extract, remove, as in He was determined to dig out every bit of metal he could find . [Late 1300s]
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Find by searching for, as in He dug out his first contract from the file . [Mid-1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A distinguishing feature is that on each hand, the possum's fourth finger is twice the length of other digits, which scientists say help it dig out wood-boring insect larvae, it's main source of food.
From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026
But if Oracle executes well, it has the partners, customers, and investments to dig out of that hole.
From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026
It was a humble and cautious start: remove some of the invasive species that were taking advantage of the open soil and dig out the camp’s veterans memorial that the mudslides had partially covered.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025
If instituting fair grades leads to crying, sobbing and “soul-crushing” setbacks, I wish her luck should she ever be called on to dig out a ruptured appendix at 3 a.m. on her birthday.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 4, 2025
Anya nodded and helped Dyedka dig out the cart.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
