drill down
To examine something on a more detailed level.
The issue can be drilled down to a simple yes or no.
drill
/dɹɪl/
noun 11verb 10
Collocations
5ADJ.
all, careful, electric, intended, little, loud, small, still
The dentist used an electric drill to clean the cavity from my tooth.
VERB + DRILL
bone, cannot, fire, having, know, knows, operating, sound
The soldiers were having drill every morning before breakfast.
DRILL + NOUN
door, husband, method
The dentist used a new drill method to clean out the cavity without causing pain.
PREP.
into, with, with
The dentist drilled into my tooth to remove the cavity.
ADV.
instead
We decided to practice the emergency procedure instead of doing a regular drill.
Definitions
verb
1
To create (a hole) by removing material with a drill (tool).
Drill a small hole to start the screw in the right direction.
2
To practice, especially in (or as in) a military context.
They drilled daily to learn the routine exactly.
On his return the team that faced Hull City had been reconfigured. Moses wasn’t overly drilled, just told he would be playing right wing-back, that Conte had seen enough to know.
3
To cause to drill (practice); to train in military arts.
The sergeant was up by 6:00 every morning, drilling his troops.
He [Frederic the Great] drilled his people, as he drilled his grenadiers.
4
To repeat an idea frequently in order to encourage someone to remember it.
The instructor drilled into us the importance of reading the instructions.
5
To investigate or examine something in more detail or at a different level
Drill deeper and you may find the underlying assumptions faulty.
noun
1
A tool or machine used to remove material so as to create a hole, typically by plunging a rotating cutting bit into a stationary workpiece.
Wear safety glasses when operating an electric drill.
2
The portion of a drilling tool that drives the bit.
Use a drill with a wire brush to remove any rust or buildup.
3
An activity done as an exercise or practice (especially a military exercise), particularly in preparation for some possible future event or occurrence.
Regular fire drills can ensure that everyone knows how to exit safely in an emergency.
“[…] if you call my duds a ‘livery’ again there'll be trouble. It's bad enough to go around togged out like a life saver on a drill day, but I can stand that 'cause I'm paid for it. What I won't stand is to have them togs called a livery. […]”
4
A short and highly repeatable sports training exercise designed to hone a particular skill that may be useful in competition.
At today's practice, the football team performed a variety of goalkeeping drills.
5
Any of several molluscs, of the genus Urosalpinx and others, especially the oyster drill (Urosalpinx cinerea), that make holes in the shells of their prey.
noun
1
An agricultural implement for making holes for sowing seed, and sometimes so formed as to contain seeds and drop them into the hole made.
I found down at the side of the house the remains of what must have once been a kitchen garden. Everything was choked with weeds and scutch grass, but the outlines of bed and drill were still there.
2
A light furrow or channel made to put seed into, when sowing.
3
A row of seed sown in a furrow.
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
fire drill
An organized practice to prepare occupants of an office, school or other public building for evacuation in the event of a fire.
Our teacher said that will have a fire drill today.
know the drill
To be acquainted with the normal process or procedure of a given activity or situation; to be familiar with how something is done.
By the time of my third, five months ago, I was a right bossy cow about what I wanted because I knew the drill. For reasons I shan’t bore you with, I got them to induce me at 39 we
sack drill
Sleep.
Example Bank
601
Drill a small hole to start the screw in the right direction.
Wiktionary02
They drilled daily to learn the routine exactly.
Wiktionary03
On his return the team that faced Hull City had been reconfigured. Moses wasn’t overly drilled, just told he would be playing right wing-back, that Conte had seen enough to know.
Wiktionary04
Wear safety glasses when operating an electric drill.
Wiktionary05
Use a drill with a wire brush to remove any rust or buildup.
Wiktionary06
Regular fire drills can ensure that everyone knows how to exit safely in an emergency.
WiktionaryUsage Notes
i Register
In some senses, drill is marked as figuratively, obsolete. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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