# drill down

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/drill-down
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To examine information at another level or in greater detail; especially in a database, to navigate to a more detailed level or record.

## Examples

- Let's drill down into the sales numbers.
- The manager asked her team to drill down and find out why profits had dropped.
- Rather than skimming the surface of the data, the analyst chose to drill down through several layers of records until she uncovered the source of the discrepancy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.