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Prepositions after verbs

"drill in" or "drill into"?

Both 'drill in' and 'drill into' are used in English, but they have different grammatical patterns and meanings depending on context.

Quick answer

Should I use 'drill in' or 'drill into'?

Use 'drill into' when something physically enters a surface or when examining a topic deeply. 'Drill in' is more common in expressions such as 'drill something in' meaning to teach or repeat something until it is remembered. In some sentences, 'in' can also act as an adverb showing direction.

Workers drilled into the wall carefully.
The coach drilled the routine in until everyone remembered it.
The reporter drilled into the financial records for details.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
drill into + surface

Making a hole or entering a material

Use 'drill into' when a tool or object penetrates a surface or material.

They drilled into the concrete.
Do not drill into the pipe.
2
drill into + subject

Examining something deeply

Use 'drill into' figuratively for detailed investigation or analysis.

The auditors drilled into the accounts.
The article drilled into the causes of inflation.
3
drill something in

Teaching through repetition

Use 'drill something in' when information or behaviour is repeated until firmly learned.

Teachers drilled the safety rules in from the first day.
My piano instructor drilled good posture in early.
4
drill in

Moving inward physically

In some contexts, 'drill in' describes movement inward, where 'in' functions as an adverb rather than part of a fixed phrase.

The bit drilled in too quickly.
The screw drilled in without resistance.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
drill into
The mechanic drilled into the metal plate.
Penetrating a surface or examining a topic deeply.
drill in
The instructor drilled the procedure in.
Teaching something through repetition.
drill in
The bit drilled in smoothly.
Moving inward physically; 'in' acts as an adverb.
drill into
The journalist drilled into the evidence.
Investigating or analysing in detail.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using 'drill in' before a surface noun

Use 'drill into' before materials or surfaces.

✕ They drilled in the wall. ✓ They drilled into the wall.

Using 'drill into' for memorisation

Use 'drill something in' for repeated teaching or memorisation.

✕ The coach drilled into the rules. ✓ The coach drilled the rules in.

Missing the object with teaching meaning

The teaching pattern usually needs an object before 'in'.

✕ The teacher drilled in all afternoon. ✓ The teacher drilled the vocabulary in all afternoon.

Confusing investigation and movement

Use 'drill into' for detailed analysis, not plain location.

✕ The report drilled in the problem. ✓ The report drilled into the problem.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The workers drilled ___ the rock to install the cables.
2. Our coach drilled the new routine ___ before the competition.
3. The documentary drills ___ the causes of the crisis.

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Frequently asked questions

Is 'drill into' only physical?

No. It is also common for detailed investigation, analysis, or discussion.

Can I say 'drill in the wall'?

Not usually. Standard English normally uses 'drill into the wall' when referring to making a hole.

What does 'drill something in' mean?

It means to repeat information or training until someone remembers it very well.

dabble, in, dabble, with "damage to" or "damage by"? dance to, with, on, in or for? "dangle from" or "dangle in"? dare to, for, on, as or at? dash to, into, out, from or on? daydream about, for, in, of or on? "debate in", "debate on" or "debate with"? deceive by, in, into, on or about? "decide on", "decide to" or "decide by"? declare in, by, on, to or as? decline in, by, from, to or for?

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