in the hole
Behind on payments
In the hole means in debt or at a deficit: After paying for repairs, we're five thousand in the hole.
The phrase evokes being stuck in a pit you must climb out of.
In baseball, a batter who is in the hole bats after the on-deck hitter—two spots away from the plate.
A pitcher in the hole has more balls than strikes in the count.
- on deckReady and waiting nearby
- up nextScheduled to follow immediately
- waiting in the wingsReady to act soon
- disadvantageUnfavorable circumstance or condition
- tight spotDifficult position, few options
tough spot · behind the eight ball · debt · deep in debt · deficit · next up · batting order · overdraft · predicament · red ink · setback · bind · batter's box · trouble · adversity · arrears · bankruptcy · shortfall
- captivitycaptive, prisoner, detained, imprisoned, incarcerated
- povertypoverty line, poor, poverty rate, impoverished, generational poverty
- Baseball Slangdinger, heater, K, ribby, tater
- battingbatting, batter, batsman, bat speed, batting average
in the holein the black
Operating at profit
in the money · in the clear · solvent · liquid · rolling in it
in the holeahead
In the lead
in the lead · up · on top · out in front · in front
in the holein the clear
Free of blame or danger
out of the woods · sitting pretty · on top · ahead of the game · in good shape
hole, holes, holed, holing, hollow, hollows, hollowed, hollowing, hollowness