hole up

verb

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

2. informal,  to hide or remain secluded

Idioms and Phrases

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

One problem would be Venezuela’s infantry, which could hole up in the densely packed slums of Caracas and other cities.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Hamas members later surrounded a large area where more than 300 Dughmush gunmen were believed to be holed up, armed with machine guns and improvised explosives.

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We talked to Slash about a week before Halloween Horror Nights opened from Orlando, Fla., where he was holed up recording an album with his band the Conspirators.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The musician holed up in his bedroom, with a gun in the pocket and a Bible in his hand, and steady visits from his drug dealers.

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But while Mr Ferro and his friends are holed up inside, others are relishing in the cold.

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Related Words

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