double-dip

verb

dou·​ble-dip ˌdə-bəl-ˈdip 

double-dipped; double-dipping; double-dips

intransitive verb

1

: to obtain money from two sources at the same time or by two separate accounting methods

Apparently, preferred shareholders get to double-dip. During the liquidation of the company, they get their money back first. Then they split the rest on a pro rata basis with us lowly common-stock holders.

—Mo Schumpeter

especially : to draw a pension from one government department while working for another

2

: to repeat the action of dipping a chip or other snack into a shared dipping sauce or mixture after taking a bite

But bring up nachos and suddenly everyone wants a place at the same table, the nacho table of peace—at least until someone tries to double-dip.

—Jeff Johnson

Everybody seems to double-dip at cocktail parties. Should I be concerned about the germs they leave behind?

—Jessica Rollins

double-dipper

ˌdə-bəl-ˈdi-pər 

noun

plural double-dippers

Keegan was an academy graduate who had put in his thirty and retired to become a double-dipper. In uniform, he'd been an intelligence specialist, and now he had essentially the same job, which added civil service salary to his pension.

—Tom Clancy

An unabashed double-dipper, he's that rare neatnik who doesn't fear germs.

—Jennifer Tung

double-dipping

ˌdə-bəl-ˈdi-piŋ 

noun

Most of the trusts are overseen by plaintiff lawyers … Can they be counted on to weed out double-dipping and false claims?

—Daniel Fisher

Double-dipping is gross, but it's unclear how bad it is for your health. One study did show there are more bacteria in the salsa after someone dunks twice, but they're the kind that normally live in our mouth and are pretty innocuous.

—Self

Examples of double-dip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As highlighted by TurboTax, taxpayers cannot double-dip on these credits. —Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

New York double-dipped on those options before spending a late first-round pick on the Ole Miss quarterback, Jaxson Dart, in the 2025 NFL Draft. —Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025

But such a practice is essentially double-dipping from the state, A3 prosecutors and state school auditors have said, because the state is paying for the same student who is enrolled in two schools at the same time. —Kristen Taketa, Mercury News, 27 May 2025

The Bills double-dipped at defensive tackle to select Walker, hoping his high-ceiling potential could translate into their long-term starter at one-technique. —Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 2 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined at sense 1