fire in the hole

Meanings

interjection

A warning of an imminent explosion in a confined space, especially a grenade or blasting charge.
Synonyms: heads up, look out, watch out
broadlyhumorousA 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.
2023, Don H. Corrigan, "I fart in your general direction!": Flatulence in Popular Culture (page 102)
1 more example
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 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
slangA generalized warning that something is about to happen.

interjectionA warning of an imminent explosion in a confined space, especially a grenade or blasting charge.

Similar

French tout le monde à couvert!

German volle Deckung

Swedish eld i berget, tänt var det här

Cite this entry

APA

fire in the hole. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fire%20in%20the%20hole

MLA

“fire in the hole.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fire%20in%20the%20hole. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fire in the hole,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fire%20in%20the%20hole.