Idioms

dig up dirt

This page is about the idiom dig up dirt

Meaning

If you dig up dirt on someone, you try to find details from their past to make them look bad in the present.

For example

  • Many politicians pay people to dig up dirt on their opponents, and then pass the information to the media.

  • Very few of our leaders come from disadvantaged backgrounds because it's so easy to dig up dirt on them or their family members.

Note:
We can also say "dig up the dirt", "dig the dirt up" and "dig the dirt", all of which have the same meaning.

Quick Quiz

A journalist is digging up dirt on a politician in order to

a. help the politician's campaign

b. damage the politician's image

c. increase the politician's popularity
a) help the politician's campaign b) damage the politician's image c) increase the politician's popularity

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey