hole up

British  

verb

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

2. informal to hide or remain secluded

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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]

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Example Sentences

I clear my schedule and hole up in the library, only to fritter away hours doing everything but writing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Around one million Goma residents were holed up in their homes on January 26, 2025, when the Congolese army and its allies were forced to pull out of the provincial capital.

From Barron's

They were holed up in their houses already, preparing to ride out the storm.

From Literature

“I mean, could it have been holed up somewhere since the fire?”

From Literature

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

Related Words

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