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dry hole. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
dry hole, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
dry hole in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
dry hole you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Noun
dry hole (plural dry holes)
- (engineering) A hole drilled into the ground for oil or gas exploration which fails to yield enough oil or gas to justify the establishment of a well.
- (figurative) Something that brings no success or profit; a dead loss.
1991, Stephen King, Needful Things:Ultrasound as a treatment for degenerative arthritis was in its infancy. It might eventually turn out to be as effective as the Salk vaccine, or as bogus as the science of phrenology. Either way, it didn't make sense right now. The chances were a thousand to one that it was a dry hole.
References
- “dry hole”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.