three hots and a cot
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Prison.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
“I've never been to jail before,” [Neal] said. “But there is a bright side: three hots and a cot at taxpayer expense.”
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Basic food and shelter.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “three hots and a cot” mean?
Prison.
Is “three hots and a cot” formal or informal?
three hots and a cot is generally slang.