What Does “Dig sth up” Mean?
“Dig sth up” means to remove something from the ground by digging or to find hidden or forgotten information.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “dig sth up” is commonly used in English to describe two main actions. The first is the literal meaning, which involves physically digging to remove something from the soil, such as a buried object or plant. The second is a figurative meaning, where it refers to discovering information that was hidden, forgotten, or unknown before. Understanding the dig sth up meaning helps learners use it correctly in different contexts, whether talking about gardening, archaeology, or even investigative work. This phrase is useful in both everyday conversations and more formal discussions, making it a versatile part of English vocabulary.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: dig something up
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to remove something from the ground or find hidden information
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Dig sth up” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object between the verb and the particle or after the particle.
- dig something up
- dig up something
Examples:
- They dug the old coins up.
- They dug up the old coins.
How to Use “Dig sth up”?
Use “dig sth up” when talking about physically removing something buried in the ground or when referring to discovering information. It is mostly used in the past or present tense and often appears in contexts involving research, investigation, or physical digging.
Common subjects include people, archaeologists, gardeners, or journalists. The object can be anything from plants and treasures to secrets or facts.
Examples
- The archaeologists dug up ancient pottery during the excavation.
- She managed to dig up some interesting facts about her family history.
- We need to dig up the garden to plant new flowers.
- He dug up some old letters in the attic.
- They dug up evidence that helped solve the case.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I dug up in the garden a flower.
- Correct: I dug up a flower in the garden.
- Incorrect: She dig up the information yesterday.
- Correct: She dug up the information yesterday.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include “dig out,” “unearth,” and “find out.”
- Dig out: Often means to remove something by digging, but can also mean to find something hidden, usually with more effort.
- Unearth: More formal, meaning to discover something hidden or lost, often used in archaeology or investigations.
- Find out: To discover information, but without the physical digging aspect.
Example: They unearthed a secret document vs. They dug up a secret document.
Common Collocations
- dig up bones
- dig up treasure
- dig up information
- dig up dirt (informal, meaning to find negative information)
- dig up evidence
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of dig sth up:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Have you ever dug up anything interesting in your backyard?
Ben: Yes! Last summer, I dug up some old coins from the 1800s.
Anna: Wow, that’s amazing! I wish I could dig up some treasure.
Ben: Or you could dig up some family stories. I found out a lot by digging up old letters.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “dig up”:
- They ________ (dig) the garden to plant new trees.
- She ________ (dig) some interesting facts about her ancestors.
- We need to ________ (dig) the old pipes before fixing the leak.
- He ________ (dig) up some dirt on the politician.
FAQs
- Q: Is “dig sth up” always about physical digging?
A: No, it can also mean discovering hidden information. - Q: Can I separate the object from “dig” and “up”?
A: Yes, “dig something up” and “dig up something” are both correct. - Q: What level is “dig sth up” suitable for?
A: It is usually taught at an intermediate (B1) level. - Q: Is “dig sth up” formal or informal?
A: It can be used in both formal and informal contexts. - Q: What is a common mistake with this phrasal verb?
A: Incorrect word order, like placing the object in the wrong position.
