The Hole in the Wall
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Probably so called because it was approached by a small passage or "hole" between houses standing in front of the tavern.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The Hole in the Wall” mean?
Probably so called because it was approached by a small passage or "hole" between houses standing in front of the tavern.
Is “The Hole in the Wall” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.