COMMON If you dig up dirt or dig the dirt on someone, you look for harmful or shocking information about them. They hired a detective firm to dig up dirt on their rival. Note: You can also say that you dig for dirt. Reporters even go through trash cans digging for dirt on celebrities. Note: You can describe this activity as dirt-digging. In the movie, a dirt-digging reporter is framed by a corrupt district attorney and sentenced for manslaughter.