dig up
phrasal verb·4 senses·particle up
Meanings
Remove something from the ground by digging
Why “up”? A person, thing, signal, idea, or truth becomes present, visible, active, or known.
“They dug up the old pipes.”
“The dog dug up a bone in the garden.”
Discover information that was hidden or forgotten
“Reporters dug up old emails.”
“The lawyer dug up a missing document.”
Damage a surface by tearing into it
Why “up”? Something normal is disturbed. Feelings, systems, machines, or behavior become noisy, troubled, or out of control.
“Builders dug up the road outside.”
“The heavy tyres dug up the wet field.”
Mention or revive something embarrassing from the past
“Why dig up that old story now?”
“The article dug up his old arrest.”
Don't confuse with
Dig up means remove something from the ground by digging. Dig out means find something by searching through other things.
Test yourself
“They dug up the old pipes.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
dig out
A contrast learners often mix up
Find something by searching through other things
act up
Same up pattern: trouble
Behave badly or stop working properly
blow up
Same up pattern: appearance
Explode or be destroyed by an explosion; Inflate something by filling it with air; Suddenly become very angry; Enlarge a photograph or image; (of a storm or argument) develop quickly into something serious
bring up
Same up pattern: appearance
Mention or raise a topic
call up
Same up pattern: appearance
Telephone someone; Order someone to join military service; Display information on a screen or computer; Bring a memory or feeling vividly to mind; Select a player for a higher-level team
catch up
Same up pattern: appearance
Reach the same level or position as someone ahead; Get up to date with news, work or events you have missed; (of bad behaviour or neglect) start to have unavoidable consequences; Spend time talking to a friend after a period apart
clear up
Same up pattern: appearance
Tidy a place by putting things away; (of weather) become bright and dry after rain or cloud; Resolve a misunderstanding or doubt by explaining it; (of an illness, rash or symptom) disappear or get better; Solve a mystery or unsolved problem
come up
Same up pattern: appearance
Arise as a topic or event; Create an idea or plan, or find an answer
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