noun
sweet potato digging; potato digging outing
Refers to the activity of digging up sweet potatoes, often as a school or family outing in autumn. The word itself is neutral, but the activity is strongly associated with children's events.
幼稚園の芋掘り遠足でたくさん掘った。
We dug up a lot at the kindergarten's sweet potato digging field trip.
秋になると、芋掘り体験ができる農園が人気だ。
In autumn, farms where you can experience sweet potato digging are popular.
noun
Derogatory term for a person from the countryside, implying unsophistication. The connection to potato digging is metaphorical: someone who digs potatoes is seen as rustic. This usage is dated and may be offensive.
彼は都会に出てきた芋掘りだと馬鹿にされた。
He was mocked as a country bumpkin who came to the city.
Mixed kana spelling; common in informal or child-oriented contexts.
Compound of 芋 (imo, 'potato') and 掘り (hori, 'digging', noun form of 掘る). The derogatory sense derives from the stereotype of rural people digging potatoes.