pothole

Everyday

1. A hole in the surface of a road or path, made by weather and traffic. tree →
2. A deep hole or cave in rock, often made by water, that people may climb down. tree →
3. (informal) A hidden problem that could cause trouble. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life potholes damage bikes and cars, so cyclists must watch for them, especially when puddles hide them. Councils fill potholes. «Potholing» (UK) is exploring caves. Phrases: «hit a pothole», «fill in a pothole», «avoid the potholes».

Examples

• Dad's car hit a pothole and the tyre went flat. tree →
• Watch out for potholes when you ride your bike. tree →
• The pothole filled with rain and looked like a puddle. tree →
• The council finally fixed the potholes on our street. tree →
• The explorers climbed down a deep pothole in the hills. tree →
• There are a few potholes in the plan, but we can fix them. tree →
• My scooter wobbled when it hit a pothole. tree →

Note

Countable, one word. A «pothole» on roads is common in UK, US, Canada, Australia, NZ and Ireland. Safety: a puddle can hide a deep pothole, so ride around puddles carefully. «Potholing» (caving) is mainly British; Americans say «caving» or «spelunking».