hole

/'houl/

Học thuật

Thân thiện

He used a drill to make a hole in the wooden plank.

Definition

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.
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.

He used a drill to make a hole in the wooden plank.

Verb

Noun

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

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