hols
Low (informal, chiefly British)Informal, colloquial, conversational; can sound dated, childish, or ironically affectionate.
Definition
Meaning
Short for 'holidays' (primarily British); a period of vacation or time off from work/school.
A colloquial, often childlike or playful reference to holidays; can evoke nostalgia, informality, or school breaks.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost exclusively plural. Strongly associated with school holidays and family vacations. Use suggests closeness or informality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Almost exclusively British. Rarely used in American English, where 'vacation' or 'break' are standard.
Connotations
UK: informal, nostalgic, school-specific. US: if used, perceived as a Britishism.
Frequency
Common in UK informal speech/writing, especially among older generations or referring to childhood. Very low frequency in US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be on (the) holsgo on (the) holshave (the) holsduring (the) holsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hols are here!”
- “That's it for the hols.”
- “What are you doing in the hols?”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Informal conversation, especially about plans or reminiscing.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We go to the beach in the summer hols.
- The kids are really excited because the hols start next week.
- During the Christmas hols, we're planning to visit my grandparents up in Scotland.
- Back in my day, the six-week summer hols seemed to last forever—now they fly by.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HOLS = Holidays Off, Let's go! School's out.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOLIDAYS ARE A CONTAINER (We are 'in' the hols, we 'go on' hols).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation to Russian каникулы for adult work leave. It's more specific to school breaks or informal UK context.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hols' in formal writing.
- Using 'hols' as singular ('a hol').
- Using it in American contexts without explanation.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'hols' most appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's not recommended. It will be understood as a British colloquialism but sound very foreign in an American context. Use 'vacation' or 'break' instead.
It is grammatically plural, just like 'holidays'. You would say 'the hols are' not 'the hols is'.
It's informal/colloquial, not quite full slang. It's an established clipping, but its use is restricted to casual, familiar settings.
Primarily British speakers. It's often used by or in reference to children (e.g., 'school hols'), or by adults in a nostalgic, informal, or deliberately playful way.