Meaning & use
dive deep
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiom
to explore or examine a subject in a lot of detail, often more than usual
Grammar: Used as an intransitive phrase; often followed by 'into' and a topic: dive deep into the data.
Patterns
- dive deep into something
- dive deep on something
For the final report, we need to dive deep into the sales figures.
She dived deep into the history of the village before writing her novel.
The podcast dives deep on how the law actually works.
phraseidiom
to go far below the surface of water, especially while swimming or diving
Grammar: Used literally for underwater movement; no object is needed, but a place phrase like 'into the sea' can follow.
Patterns
- dive deep into something
- dive deep under something
The seals can dive deep and stay underwater for many minutes.
The submarine dived deep to avoid the storm.
He dived deep into the pool to touch the bottom.
Word forms
| third person singular | dives deep |
|---|---|
| past tense | dived deep |
| past participle | dived deep |
| -ing form | diving deep |
Common combinations
- dive deep into a subject
- The course lets students dive deep into a subject they love.
- dive deep into the data
- Analysts will dive deep into the data to find the cause.
- dive deep on an issue
- The interview dives deep on the issue of online privacy.
- dive deep underwater
- These whales dive deep underwater to hunt.
Synonyms and how they differ
- explore
- More general and neutral; it can mean a quick look, while 'dive deep' suggests a thorough, committed investigation.
- dig into
- Informal and close in meaning, but it often suggests starting to examine something rather than going all the way to the bottom.
- immerse yourself in
- Focuses on becoming completely involved in an activity or subject, not just examining it.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: dive deep or dive deeply?
dive deep vs dive deeply
Incorrect in this idiom; the fixed phrase uses the adverb 'deep', not 'deeply'. 'Deeply' is used with feelings and states, as in 'deeply sorry'.
Practice
The team spent the morning ______ the customer feedback to find the real problem.
Choose one answer.
'Dive deep into' is the fixed pattern when a topic follows. 'Diving deeply into' is wrong because the idiom uses 'deep', not 'deeply'. 'Diving deep on' needs no 'into' and is less standard here, and 'diving deep' alone cannot take the object 'the customer feedback'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dive deep”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.