poke holes in
To criticize someone by finding flaws or weaknesses in their work or to criticize something by demonstrating that it is not correct.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The teacher poked holes in my weak argument.”
“During the meeting, the manager poked holes in the new project plan, forcing the team to start over.”
“The defense attorney skillfully poked holes in the witness's testimony, casting significant doubt on the entire case presented by the prosecution.”
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ace in the hole
Synonym of ace up one's sleeve.
- 02
blow a hole through
To destroy the integrity or cohesion of.
- 03
burn a hole in someone's pocket
To cause someone to spend money or be tempted to spend money.
- 04
crawl into a hole
To hide or disappear due to feelings of extreme embarrassment, shame, or helplessness; to withdraw from reality.
- 05
dig a hole for oneself
To take an action or create a situation from which it is difficult to extricate.
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dig oneself in a hole
To put oneself in even more trouble.
- 07
dig out of a hole
To save someone or something from trouble.
- 08
drinking hole
A bar or other local drinking establishment.
Last updated August 10, 2026