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Synonyms for holed up


Grammar : Verb
Spell : hohl
Phonetic Transcription : hoʊl



Définition of holed up

Origin :
  • Old English hol "orifice, hollow place, cave, perforation," from Proto-Germanic *hul (cf. Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Old High German hol, Middle Dutch hool, Old Norse holr, German hohl "hollow," Gothic us-hulon "to hollow out"), from PIE root *kel- (see cell).
  • As a contemptuous word for "small dingy lodging or abode" it is attested from 1610s. Meaning "a fix, scrape, mess" is from 1760. Obscene slang use for "vulva" is implied from mid-14c. Hole in the wall "small and unpretentious place" is from 1822; to hole up first recorded 1875. To need (something) like a hole in the head, applied to something useless or detrimental, first recorded 1944 in entertainment publications, probably a translation of a Yiddish expression, cf. ich darf es vi a loch in kop.
  • verb take refuge
Example sentences :
  • It wa'n't good for him to be holed up out there in them hills all his life.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • I should say it would be safe to assume the Waernu are holed up in Michaels' home.
  • Extract from : « The Best Made Plans » by Everett B. Cole
  • This mythical Wells gang could have been holed up in the city, too, you know.
  • Extract from : « The Best Made Plans » by Everett B. Cole
  • He holed up one day, until it really hit him that he couldn't get any more.
  • Extract from : « Police Your Planet » by Lester del Rey
  • Now they are holed up in their strongholds, waiting developments.
  • Extract from : « Valley of the Croen » by Lee Tarbell
  • Here's our storm at last, and lucky it is that we're holed up so well.
  • Extract from : « The Great Sioux Trail » by Joseph Altsheler
  • I told him about his son, holed up in gaol with Jim at La Morita.
  • Extract from : « Curly » by Roger Pocock
  • The Soth was holed up in the lab, and would I come right away?
  • Extract from : « Backlash » by Winston Marks
  • It could have holed up in either, waiting to attack any trailer—but why?
  • Extract from : « Star Hunter » by Andre Alice Norton
  • Probably the same way we would have, had we not holed up on that river island.
  • Extract from : « Star Hunter » by Andre Alice Norton

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019