hole
hole — verb
- holepresent simple I / you / we / they
- holes3rd person singular
- holing-ing form
- holedpast simple
1. to break through a hard surface such as a ship's hull or container, creating an
to break through a hard surface such as a ship's hull or container, creating an opening that lets water or other contents escape and often causes damage.
The fishing boat was holed by a submerged rock and began to sink.
passive: be holed by [cause]
Rafael accidentally holed the garden fence when he swung the axe too hard.
Debris from the explosion holed the hull of the nearest ship.
Drifting icebergs holed the supply vessel's steel plates during the Antarctic mission.
The builders holed the old plaster wall while installing new pipes.
文法句型
hole + object (ship, hull, wall, fence, surface)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice, especially when describing damage to ships or boats. The agent (the thing that causes the hole) is often introduced by 'by'.
常見錯誤
2. in golf, to sink a putt that completes a section of play on the green.
in golf, to sink a putt that completes a section of play on the green.
Mizuki holed a long putt from the edge of the green and won the tournament.
collocation: hole a putt
From the far side of the green, Lan holed a difficult putt to save par.
With steady hands, Christopher holed the last putt and claimed the trophy.
From over twenty metres away, Dewi holed the putt and won the tournament.
- miss
to fail to get the ball into the hole
文法句型
hole + object (ball, putt, chip shot)
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in golf contexts. The object is typically 'the ball' or a specific type of shot such as 'putt', 'chip', or 'approach'.
常見錯誤
hole — noun
- holesingular
- holesplural
1. an empty area in a solid object, with an opening on the surface that may continu
an empty area in a solid object, with an opening on the surface that may continue partway in or run from one side to the other.
Karim noticed a small hole in his jacket pocket.
The old wooden fence had a hole that the dog could squeeze through.
hole + in [object]; hole as passage
Allison used a needle to make a hole in the leather strap.
A large hole appeared in the roof after heavy rain last night.
Water leaked through a tiny hole in the metal pipe under the sink.
文法句型
hole + in + [object]
hole + through + [object]
用法筆記
Often followed by 'in' to name the object that contains the opening.
常見錯誤
2. on a golf course, the round target in the short grass that players aim for, foun
on a golf course, the round target in the short grass that players aim for, found at the end of each section of play.
Sana watched as the ball rolled toward the hole and dropped in.
The hole on the ninth green is hidden behind a large sand trap.
Joon needed only two putts to guide the ball into the hole.
Each hole on the course has a flag to show its position on the green.
用法筆記
In golf, the word 'hole' on its own always refers to this cup-like target on the green.
3. a section of a golf course covering the whole route from the starting point to t
a section of a golf course covering the whole route from the starting point to the putting green; one of about eighteen stretches that together make up a full game.
Paloma finished the first nine holes in forty strokes.
golf: play/finish a number of holes
The seventh hole is a short one with a dangerous water hazard.
Allison booked a tee time and played eighteen holes on Saturday.
The course has three holes that run right along the ocean shore.
文法句型
number + hole(s)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: this refers to the whole playing area from tee to green, not just the target cup.
4. in golf match-play, a scoring unit awarded to the player who finishes a section
in golf match-play, a scoring unit awarded to the player who finishes a section of the course in fewer strokes than their opponent.
Yael won the second hole with a score of three strokes.
golf: win/lose/lose a hole (scoring sense)
After her ball landed in the rough on the sixth hole, Inês lost two straight holes.
Each hole is worth one point in their match-play competition.
Owen led by three holes going into the final section of the course.
文法句型
win/lose + [number] + hole(s)
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in match-play scoring, where the result of each section is counted as a separate point.
5. a space dug out under the surface by a wild creature, used as its home or shelte
a space dug out under the surface by a wild creature, used as its home or shelter.
A rabbit darted out of its hole when Ayana walked past.
The children found a small hole in the garden that led to a mouse nest.
Élise spotted a fox hole beneath the roots of the old oak tree.
Snakes sometimes take over abandoned holes left by other animals.
文法句型
[animal] + 's + hole
hole + in the ground
常見錯誤
❌ 'The dog dug a hole in the garden to hide its bone.' (This is correct! But note: this sense is specifically for wild animal homes, not any hole in the ground.)
6. a critical term for a small, dirty, uncomfortable room or building where people
a critical term for a small, dirty, uncomfortable room or building where people live or spend time — suggesting neglect and poor condition.
The hotel room was a dirty hole with broken furniture and no heat.
Karim had to live in a tiny hole of an apartment during his first year abroad.
informal: a hole of a [place]
The bar near the station was a dark, smoky hole that nobody recommended.
Eri refused to spend another night in that miserable hole of a flat.
- palace
a large, grand place — the opposite of a cramped unpleasant space
文法句型
[be] a hole
a hole of [place]
用法筆記
Always a negative, critical expression. Common in the fixed phrase 'a hole of a [place]'.
7. a mistake or weak point in a plan, argument, theory, or story that makes it less
a mistake or weak point in a plan, argument, theory, or story that makes it less convincing or effective
Mateo found several holes in the company's financial plan before the meeting.
hole in [plan/argument/theory]
The lawyer pointed out a hole in the witness's story during the trial.
Dr. Okafor found a hole in the economic model — it could not explain why food prices kept rising.
Brooke's research paper had so many holes that her professor asked her to rewrite it.
Before we accept the proposal, we need to check it for holes.
- strength
a strong or well-supported point in an argument
文法句型
hole + in + [plan/argument/theory]
用法筆記
Common in informal expressions like 'pick holes in something', meaning to find every weak point in a plan or argument. The preposition 'in' always connects the hole to the thing that has the fault.
常見錯誤
8. a position or space that has become empty because someone or something has left,
a position or space that has become empty because someone or something has left, requiring someone or something new to take its place
When Eri left the project, it left a huge hole in the team.
leave a hole in [group/team]
The company saw a hole in the market for affordable electric bicycles.
hole in the market
The death of his grandfather left a hole in his life that never fully healed.
We need to hire two more nurses to fill the holes in our evening shift.
The flood destroyed the school, and no one could fill the hole it left in town.
文法句型
leave a hole in [group/market]
fill a/the hole in [group/system]
用法筆記
Often used with 'fill' (to replace what is missing) or 'leave' (to create the emptiness). The thing that is missing was usually present before and is expected to return or be replaced.
常見錯誤
9. a difficult, unpleasant, or awkward situation that is hard to get out of
a difficult, unpleasant, or awkward situation that is hard to get out of
After losing his job, Mateo found himself in a deep financial hole.
in a [adjective] hole
The company was in a hole after its new product failed to attract buyers.
Hamza knew he was digging himself into a deeper hole by lying to his boss.
Fix this problem now, or we will be in a real hole next month.
The new policy put the country in a hole that took years to escape from.
文法句型
in a hole
dig oneself into a hole
out of a/the hole
用法筆記
Common in informal speech and writing. 'Dig oneself into a hole' adds the idea that the person's own actions are making the situation worse. 'In a hole' usually describes a financial or career-related crisis.