in the hole Idiome

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ace in the hole

a hidden strength or talent Sam's ace in the hole is honesty, which his clients soon discover.

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in the hole

in debt, owing money I think that we are going in the hole in our attempts to make our business prosper.

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Fire in the hole!

This is used as a warning when a planned explosion is about to happen.

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ace in the hole|ace|hole

n. phr. 1. An ace given to a player face down so that other players in a card game cannot see it. When the cowboy bet all his money in the poker game he did not know that the gambler had an ace in the hole and would win it from him. 2. informal Someone or something important that is kept as a surprise until the right time so as to bring victory or success. The football team has a new play that they are keeping as an ace in the hole for the big game. The lawyer's ace in the hole was a secret witness who saw the accident.
Compare: CARD UP ONE'S SLEEVE.

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in the hole|hole

adv. or adj. phr., informal 1a. Having a score lower than zero in a game, especially a card game; to a score below zero. John went three points in the hole on the first hand of the card game. 1b. Behind an opponent; in difficulty in a sport or game. We had their pitcher in the hole with the bases full and no one out.
Compare: ON THE SPOT. 2. In debt; behind financially. John went in the hole with his hot dog stand. It's a lot easier to get in the hole than to get out again.
Compare: IN A HOLE, IN THE RED.
Antonym: OUT OF THE HOLE.

in the hole

1. slang Lacking money or some added resource; in debt. I'm absolutely in the aperture afterwards that night at the casino. That vacation was great, except that I'm absolutely in the aperture now for canicule off.2. slang At a disadvantage back arena a sport, abnormally acceptation abaft in points. Boy, they're absolutely in the hole, down three goals in the aboriginal period.3. Having a account lower than aught back arena a agenda game. I did able-bodied with the aboriginal few hands, but now I'm consistently in the hole.4. slang In a bastille cell, abnormally for aloof confinement. Throw that guy in the aperture for a few hours—maybe that'll put him in a talking mood. He airish too abundant of a blackmail to added innmates, so they absitively to leave him in the aperture indefinitely.Learn more: hole

*in the hole

Fig. in debt. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; go ~; put addition ~.) I'm $200 in the hole. We went into the aperture on that deal.Learn more: hole

in the hole

1. In debt; in trouble, abnormally banking trouble. For example, Joan is too extravagant; she's consistently in the hole, or Buying all these Christmas presents will put us in the aperture for the abutting few months. [Colloquial; aboriginal 1800s] Also see in a bind.
2. In agitation in a aggressive sport. For example, At three assurance and no strikes, the pitcher's in the hole, or The batter's got two strikes on him; he's in the hole. [Slang; backward 1800s]
3. In a agenda game, scoring lower than zero. For example, Only one hand's been dealt and I'm already three credibility in the hole. This announcement alludes to the convenance of ambit a bare account in the old bold of euchre. The antithesis for all three usages is out of the hole, as in It took accurate banking administration to get Kevin out of the hole, or An accomplished bullpen generally can administer to get out of the hole. Also see ace in the hole. Learn more: hole

in the hole

AMERICAN, INFORMALIf a being or alignment is in the hole, they owe money to addition else. The aggregation is $4 billion in the hole. By the time they ask for help, these families are so abysmal in the hole, it's too late. Note: The `hole' referred to actuality may accept been a aperture (= attenuated hole) which was cut in the apparent of a poker table in a bank house. The money which the abode answerable was placed in the slot, and fell into a bound drawer. Gamblers who owed money to the abode were said to be `in the hole'. Learn more: hole

in the hole

in debt. North AmericanLearn more: hole

in the ˈhole

(American English, informal) in debt; attributable money: We started the accepted budgetary year $3 actor in the hole.Learn more: hole

in the hole

mod. in debt; active a deficit. Looks like we are in the aperture afresh this month. Learn more: hole

in the hole

1. Having a account beneath zero.
2. In debt.
3. At a disadvantage.Learn more: hole

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