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dig out

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dig out (of something)

to channel or excavate one's way out of something. The miner had to dig out of the cave-in. They were too exhausted to dig out.

See also: dig, out

dig something out

Fig. to work hard to locate something and bring it forth. They dug the contract out of the file cabinet. I dug out an old dress and wore it to the Fifties party.

See also: dig, out

dig out something

to search for something I dug out a faded picture of my parents playing on the old tennis court.

See also: dig, out

dig out

1. Extract, remove, as in He was determined to dig out every bit of metal he could find. [Late 1300s]

2. Find by searching for, as in He dug out his first contract from the file. [Mid-1800s]

See also: dig, out

dig out

v.

1. To create a space or structure by digging: The fox dug a shelter out of the dense earth. The workers dug out a moat around the castle.

2. To create some pathway that leads from some place by digging: The prisoners dug a tunnel out of the dungeon.

3. To expose, gain access to, or free something by digging and removing what surrounds it: They worked around the clock to dig out the city after the blizzard. The nurse dug the splinter out of my finger with a needle.

4. To emerge or become accessible by or as if by digging: It took three weeks for the village to dig out after the mudslide.

See also: dig, out