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Synonyms

hole up

British  

verb

  1. (of an animal) to hibernate, esp in a cave

  2. informal to hide or remain secluded

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hole up Idioms  
  1. Take refuge or shelter, hide, as in I spent most of the cruise holed up in my cabin. This usage alludes to animals hibernating in winter or hiding from attack in caves or holes. [Late 1800s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He insisted on renting a tiny studio space in Manhattan, where they could both hole up, hang some posters for inspiration and try out sounds for hours on end.

From Los Angeles Times

Negotiations are under way to ensure safe passage for dozens of Hamas fighters holed up in tunnels in a southern Gaza area under Israeli control, multiple sources close to the talks told AFP.

From Barron's

He and his wife, Linda, had holed up on their Scotland farm, where he learned to pour cement and shear sheep while she worked on her musicianship and cooking.

From The Wall Street Journal

Facing arrest, Enrile and his allies holed up at the military headquarters in Manila and appealed to the public to protect them from an imminent government attack.

From Barron's

But Mike Burry was holed up in his office in San Jose, California, and wasn’t talking to anyone.

From Literature