Dig

To like, enjoy or understand.

What it means

To dig something is to like it, enjoy it or understand it. Cambridge Dictionary labels it old-fashioned slang meaning “to like or understand something,” with the examples “Hey, I really dig those shoes!” and “You dig my meaning, man?”

Dictionary.com adds a third use, to take notice of, as in “Dig those shoes he’s wearing,” where it means “look at that.”

Where it comes from

Dictionary.com dates the slang verb to 1935–40 and calls its origin uncertain. Green’s Dictionary of Slang says these senses were “all orig. jazz musician use, thence adopted by the fans.” Green’s mentions a suggested source in the West African language Wolof, “dega, to understand,” but notes that other dictionaries call that link “questionable” or say it has “not been substantiated.”

Green’s cites a 1939 New York Age column asking “Do you dig what I mean, my dear,” and a 1960 routine by the comic Lord Buckley: “Like some studs dig Kennedy, like some Studs dig Nixon.”

Who says it now

The translator files dig under Boomers, many of whom were children or teenagers in the 1950s and 1960s; Green’s dated examples from that time include the 1960 Lord Buckley line. Cambridge now labels it old-fashioned. In our observation “I dig it” still turns up as a relaxed, slightly retro way to say you like something.

Tone

Easygoing and friendly. In our observation, from an older speaker it is usually sincere; from a younger one it may be a deliberate throwback. It is not rude, though “You dig?” can sound pushy if it ends every sentence.

What adults hear, what kids mean

A child may hear dig as shoveling dirt, or as the noun a dig, which Cambridge defines as “a remark that is intended to criticize, embarrass, or make a joke about someone.” “I dig your drawing” from a grandparent is praise. “That was a dig” is about a remark, possibly a teasing one.

How to use it

Dig takes an object: you dig a song, a jacket or a person. “You dig?” or “Can you dig it?” on its own asks whether the listener understands or agrees.

Two examples, written by us:

How to answer it

If someone says they dig something of yours, take it as a compliment: “Thanks, glad you like it.” If they ask “You dig?”, they want to know you understood, so “I dig” or a plain “Got it” works.

Same idea, other generations

The Slang-o-matic wheel files Dig under Boomers for the idea of liking something. These are the words it files under the same idea, by generation. They are related, not always exact translations:

Related slang

Try the slang translatorAll slang by generation

Sources

Meanings and dates on this page come from these dictionaries. Each quote is copied word for word from the linked page.