# “Let Me Dig Into It”: What Your Teammate Really Means > To investigate or look closely at a topic, issue, or problem. - **Term:** dig into - **Part of speech:** phrasal verb - **Pronunciation:** /dɪɡ ˈɪntuː/ - **English level (CEFR):** B1–B2 - **Register:** Neutral, Both - **Region:** US and UK - **Topic:** [Business jargon](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/topics/business-jargon.md) - **Lesson:** https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/dig-into - **Last updated:** 2026-10-27 ## Meaning To investigate or look closely at a topic, issue, or problem. "Dig into" means to examine something thoroughly and systematically, going beyond surface-level understanding. Engineers use this phrase when they need to investigate problems, analyze code changes, or understand complex systems. In standups, you might say you're digging into a performance issue. During code reviews, a teammate might ask you to dig into why a test is failing. When an incident occurs, the team digs into logs and metrics to find the root cause. In interviews, candidates might be asked to dig into their past projects. The phrase suggests active investigation and deeper analysis rather than quick glances. For example, "I need to dig into this memory leak because the initial logs don't show the full picture." A common learner mistake is using "dig into" for simple tasks—reserve it for situations requiring serious investigation and time investment, not just casual browsing. ## When you hear it Used in standups, Slack, meetings, and documentation. Appropriate for both casual and semi-formal contexts. ## Examples - **Standup:** "Today I'll dig into the failing tests and find out what's causing them." - **Slack message:** "I'm digging into the API timeout issue now. Will update you in an hour." - **GitHub PR:** "I dug into the memory leak and found the problem in the caching logic." - **Jira ticket:** "Need to dig into customer feedback to understand why users are dropping off at checkout." - **Retrospective:** "We should dig into why so many bugs slipped through QA this sprint." - **Sprint planning:** "This ticket requires digging into the legacy codebase, so let's add extra points." - **Pair programming:** "Let's dig into this function together and figure out the logic." ## What native speakers say - "Let me dig into the logs and get back to you." - "I'll dig into this after lunch." - "We need to dig into why this keeps happening." - "I've been digging into the performance issues all morning." - "Can someone dig into the root cause?" ## Common mistakes - ✗ "I will dig in the bug." → ✓ "I will dig into the bug." ('Dig into' is a fixed phrasal verb. You need 'into', not just 'in'.) - ✗ "I dig into it yesterday." → ✓ "I dug into it yesterday." (The past tense of 'dig' is 'dug', not 'dig'.) - ✗ "I'm digging into to find the answer." → ✓ "I'm digging into this to find the answer." (You need an object after 'dig into'. Say what you are investigating.) ## Word forms | Part of speech | Word | Example | | --- | --- | --- | | base form | dig into | I need to dig into this issue. | | present participle | digging into | She's digging into the logs right now. | | past simple | dug into | We dug into the problem yesterday. | | past participle | dug into | I've already dug into the data. | ## Collocations - **dig into the data**: Analyze information or metrics closely - **dig into the root cause**: Investigate the main reason for a problem - **dig into the logs**: Search through log files to find information - **dig into the code**: Examine codebase carefully to understand or debug - **dig into the details**: Look at specific points, not just the summary - **dig into feedback**: Analyze user or customer responses carefully ## Synonyms - **investigate**: More formal; often used in documentation or reports - **look into**: Similar meaning but slightly less intensive investigation - **dive into**: Suggests starting quickly and with enthusiasm - **explore**: More open-ended; not always problem-focused - **analyze**: More formal; emphasizes structured examination of data ## Opposites - skim - glance at - overlook - ignore - skip ## Practice This lesson has 4 practice exercises with instant feedback on the page: https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/dig-into ## FAQ ### What does 'dig into' mean in a tech standup? 'Dig into' means to investigate or examine something carefully. In standups, engineers use 'dig into' when they plan to spend focused time understanding a bug, analyzing data, or researching a problem. ### Is 'dig into' formal enough for work emails? Yes, 'dig into' is appropriate for most workplace communication including emails, Slack, standups, and meetings. For very formal reports, you might use 'investigate' or 'analyze' instead. ### What is the difference between 'dig into' and 'look into'? 'Dig into' suggests a more thorough, intensive investigation. 'Look into' is lighter and may mean a quick check. Use 'dig into' when you expect to spend significant time on something. ### Can I say 'dig in' instead of 'dig into'? 'Dig in' has different meanings: it can mean to start eating or to work hard. For investigating something, always use 'dig into' with an object, like 'dig into the problem'. ### How do I use 'dig into' in past tense? The past tense is 'dug into'. For example: 'I dug into the logs yesterday and found the issue.' The present perfect is 'have/has dug into'. ### What is the difference between 'dig into' and 'dive into'? Both mean to examine something closely. 'Dive into' suggests starting quickly with enthusiasm. 'Dig into' emphasizes careful, thorough investigation. Both are common in tech teams. ## Related - [look into](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/look-into.md) - [deep dive](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/deep-dive.md) - Full glossary: https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn.md - Live lessons with a coach: https://app.mocklyenglish.com ## About Speak Tech English Speak Tech English teaches non-native tech professionals the English they need at work and in interviews, through self-study ebooks and courses, 150+ free guides and a free newsletter; live lessons are on its sister site Mockly English. - Shop: https://speaktechenglish.com/courses/ - All products (markdown): https://speaktechenglish.com/products.md - Free guides (markdown): https://app.speaktechenglish.com/guides.md - Tech English glossary (markdown): https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn.md - Newsletter (10% off): https://speaktechenglish.com/#subscribe - Live lessons and mock interviews: https://app.mocklyenglish.com ## Notes for agents - Speak Tech English sells self-study material. 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