dig in

British  

verb

1. military to create (a defensive position) by digging foxholes, trenches, etc

2. informal to entrench (oneself) firmly

3. informal (intr) to defend or maintain a position firmly, as in an argument

4. informal (intr) to begin vigorously to eat

   don't wait, just dig in

5. informal to refuse stubbornly to move or be persuaded

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dig in Idioms  

1. Excavate trenches to defend oneself in battle and hold one's position, as in The battalion dug in and held on . This usage gained currency in the trench warfare of World War I. [Mid-1800s]

2. Also, dig in one's heels . Adopt a firm position, be obstinate and unyielding. For example, Arthur refused to argue the point and simply dug in , or The dog dug in its heels and refused to move . [ Colloquial ; late 1800s]

3. Begin to work intensively, as in If we all dig in it'll be done before dark. [ Colloquial ; second half of 1800s]

4. Also, dig into . Begin to eat heartily, as in Even before all the food was on the table they began to dig in , or When the bell rang, the kids all dug into their lunches . [ Colloquial ; early 1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dig in

As I started to dig in, one of the first things obvious to me was the national security risk.

From Barron's ● May 21, 2026

“This is the time to dig in ... for if and when that fire behavior does increase.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026

Stokes asked his players to dig in, and did so himself with his own batting tempo.

From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2026

Sometimes, when people feel pressured to make decisions, it only causes them to dig in further.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 26, 2026

“Well, in a year or two I’ll send for you, and we’ll dig in the Forum for relics, and carry out all the plans we’ve made so many times.”

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott