English Reference
Idiom idiom

dip into


To spend some of a source of money (such as one's savings).

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

I had to dip into my savings to pay the bill.

CONTEXTUAL

Since the car repairs were so expensive, I had to dip into my emergency fund to cover the cost.

COMPLEX

Faced with an unexpected loss of income, he was forced to dip into his long-term investments just to maintain his basic standard of living.


Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    dip a toe into

    Alternative form of dip one's toe in.

  2. 02

    dip one's toe in

    To explore or begin; to enter or get involved in tentatively and for the first time.

  3. 03

    lucky dip

    A selection solely at random.

Last updated August 10, 2026