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]

Example Sentences

The hedge fund investor at the heart of a scandal that damaged B. Riley Financial has been charged with criminal fraud as the West L.A. company continues efforts to dig out from under the debacle.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Even worse, when it built the plant in the 1960s, the company had actually lowered the hillside by more than 100 feet, digging out soil to bring the reactors closer to the water.

Read more on Literature

If instituting fair grades leads to crying, sobbing and “soul-crushing” setbacks, I wish her luck should she ever be called on to dig out a ruptured appendix at 3 a.m. on her birthday.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Justin Herbert kept the home team somewhat in the game with three touchdown passes after halftime but found himself trying to dig out of a deep hole all day.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"The problem is if you start digging out embankments, which kingfishers use as their main habitats, they will completely avoid this area", he said.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• abolish 
• clear away 
• cut out 
• delete 
• discard 
• discharge 
• dismiss 
• eliminate 
• erase 
• evacuate 
• expel 
• extract 
• get rid of 
• oust 
• pull out 
• raise 
• separate 
• ship 
• take out 
• transfer