hole in one: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal; Technical (within golf)
Quick answer
What does “hole in one” mean?
A situation in golf where a player hits the ball from the tee into the hole with a single stroke.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A situation in golf where a player hits the ball from the tee into the hole with a single stroke.
A perfect or highly successful achievement on the first attempt in any endeavour, often involving an element of luck or exceptional skill.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties. The sport's terminology is largely shared.
Connotations
Strongly associated with golf, skill, luck, and celebration.
Frequency
Equally common in both regions among golf enthusiasts; the metaphorical use is slightly more common in American media and business jargon.
Grammar
How to Use “hole in one” in a Sentence
to score a hole in one (on the 5th hole)to get a hole in one with a 7-ironIt was her first hole in one.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hole in one” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She was thrilled with her hole-in-one achievement.
- The prize for a hole-in-one shot was a new car.
American English
- He had a hole-in-one moment with his startup pitch.
- The tournament featured a hole-in-one contest.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The product launch was a hole in one.'
Academic
Rare, except in sports science or statistical analysis of golf.
Everyday
Primarily in discussions about golf or as a metaphor for a lucky, perfect success.
Technical
A defined term in golf rules and scoring.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hole in one”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'I holed in one yesterday' is non-standard). The standard is 'I got/scored a hole in one.'
- Hyphenation inconsistency: 'hole-in-one' (often hyphenated when used attributively, e.g., 'a hole-in-one shot').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. Its core meaning is specific to golf. However, it is commonly used as a metaphor in other contexts to describe a perfect, first-attempt success.
It is typically written without hyphens as a noun phrase ('She got a hole in one'). Hyphens are often used when the phrase functions as a compound modifier before a noun ('a hole-in-one prize').
They are synonymous. 'Ace' is the more informal, shorthand term. 'Hole in one' is the full, formal term.
No, it is not standard. You 'score', 'get', 'hit', or 'make' a hole in one. The related verb for the action is 'to ace' (a hole).
A situation in golf where a player hits the ball from the tee into the hole with a single stroke.
Hole in one is usually informal; technical (within golf) in register.
Hole in one: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhəʊl ɪn ˈwʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhoʊl ɪn ˈwʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It was a real hole-in-one moment.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine ONE golf ball going into ONE hole on your very FIRST try.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUCCESS IS A PERFECT SHOT / ACHIEVING A GOAL DIRECTLY IS HITTING A HOLE IN ONE.
Practice
Quiz
In its extended metaphorical sense, 'a hole in one' primarily conveys: