1 B2 idiomatic informal
To hide in a place to avoid danger, unwanted attention, or pursuit
"The suspects holed up in an abandoned warehouse on the edge of town."
inseparable
hole up
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To hide or take shelter in a place, often for safety, to avoid someone, or to be alone
In plain English
Go somewhere and stay there to hide or be left alone
What does "hole up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To retreat to a private place to work, rest, or wait out a difficult period
"She holed up in a remote cottage for three weeks to finish writing her novel."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To enter and stay inside a hole, like an animal hiding in its burrow
Actually means
Go somewhere and stay there to hide or be left alone
Usage tip
Common in American and British informal English. Often used when someone retreats from the world, sometimes due to danger, bad weather, or a desire for privacy. The image is of an animal retreating into its burrow.
Words that pair with "hole up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
hideout cabin apartment safe house winter storm
How to conjugate "hole up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
hole up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
holes up
he/she/it
Past simple
holed up
yesterday
Past participle
holed up
have + pp
-ing form
holing up
continuous
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