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hiromichi
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 1380
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 Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 12:30 am Post subject: Senate Digs In for Long Battle Over Immigration Bill |
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What does "dig in" mean?
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Hiromichi |
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IanT
Joined: 13 Sep 2012
Posts: 340
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 12:52 am Post subject: |
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It's a military image. In long battles - imagine World War One - there were two sides hiding in trenches a few metres apart and shooting at anyone who put their head up!
So to "dig in" means to dig those trenches (long deep narrow holes) as a place to be protected in preparation for a long battle.
Nowadays the non-literal meaning is something like "prepare to be stubborn!"
You also have connected ideas like "an entrenched position" which now means that people are unlikely to change their minds.
Hope helps,
Ian
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hiromichi
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 1380
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| Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 1:10 am Post subject: |
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IanT:
I get it. Thank you very much.
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Hiromichi |
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