dip into
Britishverb
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to draw (upon)
he dipped into his savings
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to read (passages) at random or cursorily in (a book, newspaper, etc)
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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]
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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]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Alex Wood, from charity Freewheelers which delivers medical supplies, said it has had to dip into reserves to keep afloat.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Households have had to dip into savings more to offset the high rate of inflation.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
The shop wasn’t Cassaday’s first dip into selling vintage goods.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
"I will now dip into my savings, borrow some money. I don't know what's next," she told AFP in the garment hub of Gazipur.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
The mother bustled about, putting the porridge into a bowl for all to dip into and drawing a bench up to the table.
From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
