dip into

verb

1. to draw (upon)

   he dipped into his savings

2. to read (passages) at random or cursorily in (a book, newspaper, etc)

Idioms and Phrases

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]

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

Is this a good or bad time to dip into my $650K retirement fund to remodel my bathroom?

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He said he dipped into personal savings to pay for employees’ salaries in Uganda and donations to orphanages.

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"I haven't been on wages for the past two weeks. I'm now dipping into savings, money that I've squirreled away for retirement, with no insight into exactly when this will be over."

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It doesn't stay in the body for that long - we haven't got a collagen store cupboard that we can just dip into.

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Santa Monica officials had initially been set to consider a “fiscal emergency,” a move that would have triggered authorities by the city to address it, such as cuts and dipping into reserves.

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