Synonyms

rathole

American

[rat-hohl] / ˈrætˌhoʊl /

noun

a hole made by a rat, as into a room, barn, etc..

The first chore in the old building is to plug up the ratholes.
the burrow or shelter of a rat.
any small and uncomfortable room, office, apartment, etc., especially one that is dirty or disordered.

He lives in a rathole near the docks.

idioms

down the rathole, for a worthless purpose or purposes.

seeing your inheritance disappear down the rathole.

Etymology

Origin of rathole

First recorded in 1805–15; rat + hole

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.

The states would be motivated to determine the legitimacy of the payments before the money disappears down the fraud rathole.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Leah asked me if I knew what the cost is of a rathole studio.

From Slate • Jun. 3, 2022

The house was a real—I won't curse on the podcast, but, you know, a rathole, let's say.

From The New Yorker • Sep. 19, 2018

We need to consider capturing and converting carbon by a means that doesn’t mean injecting in a rathole hoping it won’t escape.

From New York Times • Jan. 16, 2016

“Where have you led us, dwarf? My horse does not leave my side. Climb into this rathole, the rest of you. I shall guard Islimach myself.”

From "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexander

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023