earhole
Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈiəhəʊl/
US
- /ˈɪrhoʊl/
Description
- opening of the ear
- informal word for an ear
- place where sound goes in
- sometimes a pierced hole for jewelry
An earhole is, most literally, the opening of the ear canal. In informal speech, it can also mean the ear itself in a slightly rough or playful way. People may use it in lines like "Get it through your earhole!" when they want someone to listen or finally understand something they have been ignoring. In some contexts, it can also refer to a pierced hole for jewelry, though that use is less common and depends on the situation.
It belongs mostly to casual conversation and is rare in formal writing. The word usually points to hearing, listening, or the physical opening of the ear, and it often carries a blunt, joking, or annoyed tone.
The most straightforward meaning of earhole is the opening of the ear canal. That is the basic physical sense of the word. In everyday English, though, it is often used more loosely as an informal or slangy way to say "ear." In that tone, it can sound playful, blunt, or a little rude, depending on who is speaking and how it is said.
That informal sense appears in expressions about listening and understanding. If someone says, "Get it through your earhole," they mean "Listen" or "Understand this at last." The idea is that the words are going into the person's ear, but the message is still not getting through. This gives the word a strong place in joking, irritated, or dramatic speech.
Sometimes people also use earhole for a pierced hole in the ear where jewelry is worn, but this is less standard than simply saying "ear piercing" or "pierced ear." Because of that, it makes sense only when the context is clear. The word is not usually the best choice in careful writing about jewelry or anatomy.
Overall, earhole is mainly an informal, vivid word tied to hearing and listening. It is commonest when people are speaking casually and want a more colorful way to talk about the ear or about someone not paying attention. It is understandable in literal contexts too, but its strongest use is still in expressive everyday speech rather than formal English.
Examples
- 1
Hearing protection
He pushed an earplug into his earhole before the drill started.
Usage
earhole
a very informal, joking word for ear
- 2
Headphones
Put your headphones on and get some music in your earholes.
- 3
Annoying jingle
That commercial jingle got into my earholes this morning, and I still can't stop humming it.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- earhole