What does "dip into" mean?

To use part of a sum of money saved To take money from savings for a specific purpose.

How do you use "dip into" in a sentence?

I had to dip into my savings. Don't dip into your emergency fund. We dipped into our reserves.

Phrasal Verb BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

Meaning: To use part of a sum of money saved

动用（存款）

Echar mano de, recurrir a

（貯金などに）手をつける

(저축 등에) 손을 대다

To take money from savings for a specific purpose.

为特定目的从存款中取钱。

Sacar dinero de los ahorros para un propósito específico.

特定の目的のために貯蓄からお金を取り出すこと。

특정 목적을 위해 저축한 돈을 꺼내 쓰다.

Base verb: dip

Particle: into

Separable: No — the verb and particle stay together

I had to dip into my savings.
我不得不动用我的存款。
Tuve que echar mano de mis ahorros.
貯金に手をつけなければならなかった。
저축에 손을 대야 했다.
Don't dip into your emergency fund.
别动应急资金。
No recurráis al fondo de emergencia.
緊急用の資金には手をつけないで。
비상 자금에는 손을 대지 마.
We dipped into our reserves.
我们动用了储备金。
Recurrimos a nuestras reservas.
私たちは予備資金に手をつけた。
우리는 예비 자금에 손을 댔다.

Context: savings, emergencies

Tone: reluctant

Had to dip into savings
不得不动用存款
Tuve que tirar de ahorros
貯金を崩さなければならなかった
저축에 손을 대야 했다

From dipping a hand into a container.

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal