Definition

1. Noun:

   • An opening or hollow space in a solid object: A physical gap, cavity, or perforation.
   • An animal's burrow or den: A place where an animal lives underground.
   • A fault, flaw, or weakness: A gap or deficiency in an argument, plan, or story.
   • An awkward or difficult situation: An informal term for a predicament or fix.
   • The cup on a golf green: The target into which the ball is played; also, one unit of play from tee to green.
   • Informal term for the mouth.

2. Verb:

   • To make a hole or holes in something: To pierce, perforate, or create an opening.
   • To hit a golf ball into the hole: To complete a golf hole by putting the ball into the cup.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:

  • There is a small hole in my sock. (Refers to an opening in the fabric.)
  • The rabbit disappeared into its hole. (Refers to an animal's burrow.)
  • His theory has several logical holes. (Refers to flaws in reasoning.)
  • I'm in a real hole with this project deadline. (Informal: refers to a difficult situation.)
  • She birdied the final hole. (Refers to a golf course unit.)

• Verb:

  • The carpenter will hole the wood for the screws. (Means to make holes.)
  • He managed to hole the putt from ten feet away. (Means to sink the golf ball.)

Advanced Usage and Idioms

• To make a hole in something: To use a significant amount of something, especially money.
  • Buying a new car made a big hole in my savings.
• To pick holes in something: To find faults or criticize minor details.
  • He's always picking holes in my proposals.
• A hole in one: In golf, hitting the ball from the tee into the hole with a single stroke; metaphorically, a perfect achievement.
  • Scoring a hole in one is a rare feat.
• To be in a hole: To be in a difficult or embarrassing situation.
  • After missing the flight, we were really in a hole.
• Like a hole in the head (used for emphasis in negative statements): Not wanted or needed at all.
  • I need more work right now like I need a hole in the head.

Variants and Related Words

• Holey (adj): Full of holes.
  • The old, holey sweater was only good for gardening.
• Hollow (n/adj): A sunken area or cavity; not solid. (Related in meaning to a depression or cavity.)
• Aperture (n): An opening, hole, or gap. (More formal synonym.)
• Perforation (n): A hole made by piercing or boring through something.

Synonyms

• Noun: Opening, gap, cavity, pit, hollow, puncture, tear, flaw, weakness, predicament, jam, fix.
• Verb: Pierce, puncture, perforate, drill, bore.

Phrasal Verbs

• Hole up: To hide or take shelter, often for a long period.
  • The fugitives holed up in an abandoned cabin for the winter.
• Hole out (Golf): To hit the ball into the hole, completing play on that hole.
  • He needed to hole out from the bunker to save par.

Related Idioms

• A square peg in a round hole: A person who is unsuited to their position or situation.
  • As an artist in a corporate office, he felt like a square peg in a round hole.
• Money burns a hole in [someone's] pocket: Said when someone is eager to spend money quickly.
  • The birthday cash was burning a hole in her pocket.
• The hole card: A hidden advantage or piece of information kept in reserve.
  • The negotiator was careful not to reveal his hole card too early.

Verb

1. make holes in
2. hit the ball into the hole

Noun

1. informal terms for the mouth
2. informal terms for a difficult situation
   • he got into a terrible fix
   • he made a muddle of his marriage
3. a fault
   • he shot holes in my argument
4. a depression hollowed out of solid matter
5. an unoccupied space
6. one playing period (from tee to green) on a golf course
   • he played 18 holes
7. an opening deliberately made in or through something
8. an opening into or through something