fire in the hole

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

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Interjection

fire in the hole

  1. A warning of an imminent explosion in a confined space, especially a grenade or blasting charge. (The addition of quotations indicative of this usage is being sought:)
  2. (loosely, by extension, humorous) A warning of any imminent explosive detonation.
    • 2023 July 14, Brittney Mejia, Libor Jany, Richard Winton, “LAPD refused to ID officers behind a huge fireworks explosion. Now we have their names”, in Los Angeles Times‎[1]:
      Before screaming “Fire in the hole!” and detonating a cache of confiscated fireworks on a residential street two years ago, Los Angeles police Det. Damien Levesque repeatedly walked away from critical discussions about the safety of the operation.
    • 2023, Don H. Corrigan, "I fart in your general direction!": Flatulence in Popular Culture (page 102)
      […] fire-in-the-hole farts and the unwholesome sounds of a Niagara Falls of diarrhea filling the sink rim to the brim.
  3. (slang) A generalized warning that something is about to happen.

Synonyms

(generalized warning):

Translations

Translations
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