dry hole

Fruitless drilling result

A dry hole is a well drilled for oil or gas that yields nothing commercially viable—no petroleum, no profit.

The term extends to any venture that fails to produce expected results: The investigation turned out to be a dry hole.

In vulgar slang, dry hole refers to unlubricated sex or an unresponsive sexual partner.

failure

unsuccessful

Not achieving desired outcome

disappointmentSadness from unmet expectations
wastedUsed without good result
fruitlessProducing no useful outcome

futile · unprofitable · worthless · bootless · abortive · unavailing · bust · strikeout · dead end · washout

petroleum

oilfield

Underground hydrocarbon reserve area

drillingHole-making by rotation
explorationTraveling through unknown regions
wildcattingSpeculative petroleum exploration

wellbore · duster · prospecting · derrick · rig · drill bit · casing · seismic · lease · borehole

emptiness

void

Without legal effect

vacuumAbsence of matter
emptyHolding nothing inside
hollowEmpty within

barren · devoid · nothing · blank · vacuous · absence · depleted · exhausted · tapped out · spent

investment

speculation

Unproven theorizing or risky investment

gambleStake on uncertain outcome
riskPossibility of harm
lossBeing without something

sunk cost · write-off · venture · capital · investor · stake · bet · venture capital · speculator · money pit

Categories

oil industrypetroleum, oil fields, oil well, oil rig, oil production
mineral rightsmineral rights, mining rights, drilling rights, oil leases, mining claims

Opposites

oil/gas drilling outcome

dry holegusher

Oil well that erupts

producer · oil strike · flowing well · bonanza · successful

INVESTMENT/VENTURE SUCCESS (metaphorical)

dry holejackpot

Accumulated gambling prize

gold mine · bonanza · windfall · pay dirt · cash cow

Family

dry, hole, dries, dried, drying, dryer, drier, driest, dryly

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Rated G