dig

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to search for information or secrets.

v. to investigate or research intensively to uncover hidden information, often followed by 'up' or 'into'.

“The reporter began to dig into the company's history to find the truth.”

“Journalists continued to dig for evidence of corruption, eventually uncovering a series of offshore accounts linked to the ministry.”

C1 · Advanced Informal · Slang

v. to enjoy, appreciate, or understand something.

v. to appreciate, enjoy, or comprehend something; carries a distinct mid-20th-century counterculture nuance.

“I really dig your new jacket; where did you get it?”

“While the older generation found the rhythm chaotic, the younger fans really seemed to dig the experimental jazz fusion.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a place where people search for old objects from history.

n. an archaeological or paleontological excavation site or the project itself.

“The students spent their summer working at a Roman dig in France.”

“The university-led dig yielded several significant artefacts that challenged previous theories about the settlement's age.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a clever but slightly mean comment about someone.

n. a critical, sarcastic, or insulting remark aimed at a person.

“He couldn't resist taking a dig at her messy desk.”

“Her speech was mostly professional, though she did include a subtle dig at her rival's failed policy initiative.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a quick push with a finger or elbow.

n. a sharp poke or thrust, often with an elbow or finger.

“She gave him a dig in the ribs to make him stop talking.”

“A sharp dig in the elbow was the only way to get his attention during the long, long, boring lecture.”