Hole in the wall

hole in the wall

Hole in the wall

Definition:

A small, simple place, particularly a shop or restaurant.

Example:

1) Let's go to the Italian restaurant on

Smith Street
. It's just a hole in the wall, but the food is excellent.

Etymology:

This phrase has been used since the early 1800s. A 'hole' is an empty space, and a 'wall' is part of a building. So a 'hole in the wall' is a simple, undecorated space in a building.