Crawl into a hole Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈkɹɔɫ/ /ˈɪntu/, /ɪnˈtu/, /ɪntə/ /ˈeɪ/, /ə/ /ˈhoʊɫ

KRAWL IN-too uh HOHL

UK

kɹˈɔːl/ /ˈɪntʊ/ /æɪ/ /hˈəʊl

kRAWL IN-tuh uh HOHL

Definition

To want to disappear or hide because you feel very embarrassed, ashamed, or awkward.

Usage & Nuances

This is an informal, figurative expression used only when talking about strong embarrassment, not literally hiding. Often used with 'just' or 'want to', as in 'I just wanted to crawl into a hole.' Do not use in formal writing.

• Spanish: meterse en un agujero (por vergüenza) - querer desaparecer
• Portuguese (BR): querer se enfiar num buraco (de vergonha) - sumir de vergonha
• Portuguese (PT): querer enfiar-se num buraco (de vergonha) - desaparecer de vergonha
• Chinese (Simplified): 恨不得找个地洞钻进去
• Chinese (Traditional): 恨不得找個地洞鑽進去
• Hindi: ज़मीन में ग़ुज़र जाना चाहना (शर्म से)
• Arabic: أراد أن يختفي خجلاً - يتمنى لو ابتلعته الأرض
• Bengali: গর্তে ঢুকে পড়া - মাটির নিচে চলে যেতে চাওয়া (আন্তরিকভাবে)
• Russian: сквозь землю провалиться - хотел бы спрятаться в нору
• Japanese: 穴に入りたい - 穴に隠れたくなる
• Vietnamese: muốn chui xuống lỗ - muốn biến mất
• Korean: 구멍이라도 들어가고 싶다
• Turkish: yerin dibine girmek istemek - yerin içine geçmek
• Urdu: زمین میں گڑھ جانا چاہنا
• Indonesian: ingin masuk ke dalam lubang - ingin menghilang

Example Sentences

I was so embarrassed I wanted to crawl into a hole.

basic

When I forgot my words on stage, I wished I could crawl into a hole.

basic

If my phone rings in class, I always want to crawl into a hole.

basic

He said my secret out loud, and I just wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.

natural

After sending that message to the wrong person, I felt like I could just crawl into a hole from embarrassment.

natural

Sometimes when people sing 'Happy Birthday' to me in a restaurant, I want to crawl into a hole.

natural