d. 1732. Gay, Tales ‘In Imitation of Chaucer’s Style’ (Chalmers, English Poets, 1810, x., 504). Thou didst forget to guard thy postern, There is an hole which hath not crossed been.
Verb (venery).—To effect intromission; to put in (q.v.). Hence, Holed, adj. = in (q.v.).
A hole in one’s coat, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A flaw in one’s fame; a weak spot in one’s character. To pick a hole in one’s coat = to find a cause for censure.
1789. Burns, Verses on Capt. Grose. If there’s a hole in a’ your coats, I rede you tent it.
To make (or burn) a hole in one’s pocket, verb. phr. (colloquial).—Said of money recklessly spent.
To make a hole in anything, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To use up largely.
1663. Killigrew, The Parson’s Wedding, iii., 5 (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, xiv., 456). Do it then, and make a hole in this angel.
To make a hole in the water, verb. phr. (common).—To commit suicide by drowning.
1892. Milliken, ’Arry Ballads, p. 76. I should just make a hole in the water, if ’tworn’t for the wife and the kids.
To make a hole, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To break; to spoil; to upset; to interrupt. Thus to make a hole in one’s manners = to be rude; to make a hole in one’s reputation = to betray, to seduce; to make a hole in the silence = to make a noise, to raise cain (q.v.).