Fire in the hole means: A warning of an imminent explosion in a confined space, especially a grenade or blasting charge.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
fire in the hole
A warning of an imminent explosion in a confined space, especially a grenade or blasting charge.
Etymology timeline
Born ~1900 · no dated citations yetDefinitions
(slang) A generalized warning that something is about to happen.
Comments
(loosely, by extension, humorous) A warning of any imminent explosive detonation.
: fire-in-the-hole farts and the unwholesome sounds of a Niagara Falls of diarrhea filling the sink rim to the brim.
Fire in the hole means: A warning of any imminent explosive detonation.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
fire in the hole means: A warning of any imminent explosive detonation.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
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Show 1 more dictionary-style sense (imported)
A warning of an imminent explosion in a confined space, especially a grenade or blasting charge.
Fire in the hole means: A warning of an imminent explosion in a confined space, especially a grenade or blasting charge.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
fire in the hole means: A warning of an imminent explosion in a confined space, especially a grenade or blasting charge.. Register: neutral, standard English. Common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; always check the context before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
Comments
For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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