in the hole

1. In debt; in trouble, especially financial trouble. For example, Joan is too extravagant; she's always in the hole , or Buying all these Christmas presents will put us in the hole for the next few months . [ Colloquial ; early 1800s] Also see in a bind .

2. In trouble in a competitive sport. For example, At three balls and no strikes, the pitcher's in the hole , or The batter's got two strikes on him; he's in the hole . [ Slang ; late 1800s]

3. In a card game, scoring lower than zero. For example, Only one hand's been dealt and I'm already three points in the hole . This expression alludes to the practice of circling a minus score in the old game of euchre. The antonym for all three usages is out of the hole , as in It took careful financial management to get Kevin out of the hole , or An experienced pitcher often can manage to get out of the hole . Also see ace in the hole .

Example Sentences

Have you also booked a “cheap” United flight only to realize that you’d be more than $100 in the hole if you wanted to bring a single piece of luggage with you to a wedding?

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Mr McNamara, who lives in Lowestoft, Suffolk, said he thought he had been alerted to the Gorleston gig by a fax from the band's press team - and was pleased his stock of live photos had given him an "ace in the hole" for his story in the freesheet.

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Whether by writerly intention or inattention, this will be no more of an emotional issue for Vince than it will have anything to do with the rest of the story, apart from sending him back to NYC, where he is $140,000 in the hole over gambling debts.

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However, things could have been much worse for the Dane, who birdied the 17th and then remarkably eagled the 18th - blading his attempted chip from just off the green and watching it cannon into the flagstick before dropping in the hole.

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This week excavators were slowly filling in the hole and the council insisted it was sticking to its timetable to finish the repairs by Christmas.

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Related Words

• arrears 
• bill 
• capital 
• commitment 
• credit 
• damage 
• deficit 
• due 
• indebtedness 
• liability 
• mortgage 
• obligation 
• price tag 
• receipt