Definition

Noun: 1. A small, hastily dug defensive pit for a soldier: A "fox hole" is a shallow pit or trench dug by a soldier for immediate, individual protection against enemy fire on the battlefield. It is a basic form of field fortification.

Usage

The term "fox hole" is used primarily in a military context to describe a soldier's personal defensive position. * It is a compound noun, typically written as two separate words ("fox hole") or sometimes hyphenated ("fox-hole"). * It is used with verbs like dig, jump into, occupy, or man.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The infantry unit was ordered to dig fox holes along the ridge.
  • When the artillery barrage began, every soldier jumped into his fox hole.
  • They spent a cold, wet night in their muddy fox holes.

Advanced Usage

• "Fox hole conversion": A humorous or cynical term for a sudden, profound change in personal belief or behavior (e.g., becoming religious) triggered by the extreme fear and danger of combat.
  • After the near-miss, he experienced a fox hole conversion and promised to change his ways if he survived.
• "Fox hole buddy": Refers to a fellow soldier with whom one shares the close, dangerous, and intimate experience of combat, implying a deep bond.
  • Even decades after the war, he remained close friends with his fox hole buddy.

Variants and Related Words

• Foxhole (n): The single-word spelling is a common and accepted variant with the same meaning.
• Fighting position (n): A more formal military term that can encompass fox holes, trenches, and other defensive emplacements.
• Sangar (n): A similar type of fortified stone or sandbag position, often used in rocky terrain where digging is difficult.
• Trench (n): A longer, deeper defensive excavation that connects multiple positions, as opposed to an individual pit.

Synonyms

• Dugout (n): A more general term for a shelter dug into the ground, which can be larger and more permanent than a fox hole.
• Defensive pit (n): A descriptive synonym.
• Entrenchment (n): A broader term for any dug-in defensive position.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "There are no atheists in fox holes": A common saying asserting that in moments of extreme danger and fear (like being under fire in a fox hole), everyone prays to or believes in a higher power.
  • The old sergeant often said, "There are no atheists in fox holes," based on his wartime experiences.

Noun

1. a small dugout with a pit for individual shelter against enemy fire