dig ditches

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   To dig long narrow holes in the ground, usually for drainage or irrigation.

   Grammar: Used as a verb phrase; the object 'ditches' is always plural.

   The workers spent the whole day digging ditches along the road.

   Before planting, the farmers dug ditches to bring water to the fields.

   He was hired to dig ditches for the new drainage system.

2. 2phraseidiominformal

   To do hard, unskilled manual work, especially as a way of earning a living.

   Grammar: Often used in negative sentences to say someone is not suited to such work.

   Patterns

   • not dig ditches

   He's not afraid to dig ditches if that's what it takes to feed his family.

   After losing his job, he had to dig ditches just to get by.

   She always said she didn't go to college just to dig ditches.

Common combinations

dig ditches for a living

Many immigrants came to the city to dig ditches for a living.

dig ditches along the road

The crew dug ditches along the road to install new pipes.

spend the day digging ditches

He spent the day digging ditches in the hot sun.

not dig ditches

I didn't study engineering to not dig ditches.

Synonyms and how they differ

excavate

More formal and technical; used for digging large holes or trenches, not usually for ditches on a farm.

trench

As a verb, it means to dig a long narrow hole, similar but often used for military or construction contexts.

Word family

ditch noun

A long narrow hole dug in the ground, especially for drainage.

ditch verb

To get rid of something or someone, or to make a ditch.

Commonly confused: dig ditches or dig a ditch?

Practice

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