dig up dirt

verb

To examine (someone or something) in order to find negative or unfavorable information about them for public opinion, usually with the purpose of embarrassing or discrediting a person.

“The freelance investigative reporter made a career of digging up dirt on celebrities for tabloids.”

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Meanings

verbdig up dirt (third-person singular simple present digs up dirt, present participle digging up dirt, simple past and past participle dug up dirt)

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

  1. idiomaticslangusuallywith onTo examine (someone or something) in order to find negative or unfavorable information about them for public opinion, usually with the purpose of embarrassing or discrediting a person.

    The freelance investigative reporter made a career of digging up dirt on celebrities for tabloids.

Cite this entry
APA

dig up dirt. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dig%20up%20dirt

MLA

“dig up dirt.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dig%20up%20dirt. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dig up dirt,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dig%20up%20dirt.

Source: dig up dirt on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.