dip one's toe in

verb

To explore or begin; to enter or get involved in tentatively and for the first time.

Meanings

verbdip one's toe in (third-person singular simple present dips one's toe in, present participle dipping one's toe in, simple past and past participle dipped one's toe in)

present singular third person dips one's toe in · participle present dipping one's toe in · participle past dipped one's toe in · past dipped one's toe in · alternative dip one's toe into · alternative dip one's toes in · alternative dip one's toes into · alternative dip a toe in · alternative dip a toe into

  1. figurativelyidiomaticTo explore or begin; to enter or get involved in tentatively and for the first time.

    Given how many other politicians, from Ed Miliband to Bill Clinton, have dipped their toes into the world of podcasting, it’s perhaps inevitable that Barack and Michelle Obama are entering the field too.

    2019 June 14, Gwilym Mumford, Hannah Verdier, Max Sanderson, Josh Toussaint-Strauss, “A gripping, intimate account of the moon landing – podcasts of the week”, in The Guardian
    1 more example

    The Happy Gnome, on Selby Av. in St. Paul, became a place to dip one's toe in the burgeoning beer world. With a focus on domestic craft and quality import beers, this cozy bar was a welcome home to curious beer lovers.

    2019 December 17, Hannah Sayle, “Beloved St. Paul craft beer bar Happy Gnome is closing”, in Star Tribune, archived from the original on 19 Feb 2020

Translations

Greek παίρνω το βάπτισμα του πυρός
  • παίρνω το βάπτισμα του πυρός (paírno to váptisma tou pyrós)begin to explore, get involved
Portuguese dar os primeiros passos, pegar a manha
  • dar os primeiros passosbegin to explore, get involved
  • pegar a manhabegin to explore, get involved
Cite this entry
APA

dip one's toe in. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dip%20one's%20toe%20in

MLA

“dip one's toe in.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dip%20one's%20toe%20in. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dip one's toe in,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dip%20one's%20toe%20in.

Source: dip one's toe in on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.