dig up

present singular third person digs up · participle present digging up · participle past dug up · past dug up

1. transitiveTo excavate something.

   The work involved a complete rewiring of the system, while the addition of four higher-capacity Mechan jacks and the increased length of the new train meant the entire floor (the length of four train carriages) had to be dug up, levelled and strengthened to meet tolerance requirements.

   2020 August 12, “Network News: Four new jacks at Clacton depot”, in Rail, page 18

2. idiomatictransitiveTo discover something by digging; to unearth.

   dig up proof

   3 more examples

   dig up information

   dig up some scandalous stories

   dig some gossip up on him.

3. transitiveTo find a supply of (something); to pay up.

   You'll have to dig up eight grand to pay for this.