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.
As you dip into the valley on the way into Merthyr Tydfil, a new earthy-toned building dominates the view.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
The shop wasn’t Cassaday’s first dip into selling vintage goods.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026
Milk production is down because the cows are stressed and grass isn’t growing fast enough for them to feed, forcing farmers to dip into winter feed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Related: My wife and I are both retired’: Do we dip into our $2.3 million fund to pay off our $300,000 mortgage at 2.9%?
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
With the world upside down, the trees dip into a velvety expanse of stars.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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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.
