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

---

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]

---

Example Sentences

With expectations reset, now is the time to dig in.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • Jan. 26, 2026

But if you dig in, you’ll find some lines that are really telling.

From Slate • Nov. 17, 2025

Far from improving conditions, diplomatic passivity has allowed the government to dig in its heels, intensifying repression and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

“Most kids like to dig in the dirt,” Mom said.

From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold