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dip into

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dip into something

to use a small amount of something The local government voted to dip into the emergency fund to pay for repairing the old town hall.

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dip into

1. Investigate superficially, as in He began to dip into Chaucer, or She's just dipping into psychology. This expression alludes to plunging briefly into a liquid. [Late 1600s]

2. Withdraw something in small amounts, usually money, as in I'll have to dip into my savings. This usage employs dip into in the sense of plunging one's hand or a ladle into a pot, water, or the like for the purpose of taking something out. [Early 1800s]

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dip into

v.

1. To plunge something briefly into a liquid: I dipped the donut into the coffee.

2. To take a small amount of something from where it is stored: We have been dipping into the olives you bought all day, but there are still some left.

3. To withdraw a small amount from some place where it is stored or kept: We dipped into our savings account to buy the car.

4. To browse something: I dipped into the book, but I didn't read the whole thing.

5. To investigate some subject superficially; dabble in something: I've dipped into psychology, but it never really interested me.

See also: dip