swimming hole
C1informal, chiefly North American
Definition
Meaning
A natural body of water, often in a river, stream, or pond, suitable for swimming, typically in a rural or secluded setting.
Informal; also connotes a nostalgic or recreational community spot, often associated with childhood, summer, and rural life.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Evokes imagery of nature, leisure, and rustic simplicity. Often implies a local, non-commercial spot known to a community.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily North American; UK speakers would more likely say 'swimming spot' or 'wild swimming spot'. 'Bathing spot' is archaic UK.
Connotations
In US/Canada, strong connotations of rural Americana, nostalgia. In UK, the concept exists but the specific term is less common.
Frequency
High frequency in US/Canadian informal contexts describing rural recreation; low in UK.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
We used to go to [the] swimming holeLet's find a swimming holeThe kids are at the swimming holeIt's our secret swimming holeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[As] popular as the old swimming hole on a hot day”
- “Memory lane leads to the old swimming hole”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, may appear in historical, anthropological, or cultural studies of rural life.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation, especially in rural/suburban areas of North America describing summer activities.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- After the hike, we cooled off in a secluded swimming hole we'd discovered.
- The guidebook mentioned a few safe swimming holes along the river.
American English
- Every summer, we'd ride our bikes to the swimming hole down by the old mill.
- That swimming hole is fed by a spring, so the water is always cold.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children like the swimming hole.
- We found a good swimming hole in the river to cool down.
- Locals have been using that secluded swimming hole for generations, despite there being no official safety measures.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HOLE in the riverbank landscape that's perfect for SWIMMING.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURE IS A RECREATION FACILITY; A SIMPLE PLEASURE IS A PHYSICAL LOCATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'плавательная яма' (sounds like a pit for swimming). The concept is 'естественный водоём для купания' or 'место для купания в реке'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe a man-made pool. *'The hotel had a lovely swimming hole.' (Incorrect) | Using in formal writing. *'The municipality developed a public swimming hole.' (Incorrect, use 'natural swimming area' or 'pond').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'swimming hole' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's not literally a hole. It refers to any natural, often somewhat deepened or contained, part of a river, stream, or pond suitable for swimming.
It's less common. 'Swimming hole' typically implies a smaller, more intimate spot, often on a flowing watercourse like a creek or river, rather than a large, open lake.
Not necessarily. Unlike supervised pools, natural swimming holes often have no lifeguards, hidden currents, variable depths, and submerged objects. Caution and local knowledge are essential.
A 'water hole' is primarily for animals to drink and can be any source of water in a dry area. A 'swimming hole' is specifically for human recreation and implies suitability for swimming.