hole in one
In golf, to get the ball into the hole after hitting it only once. A: "I can't believe I got a hole in one!" B: "Eh, beginner's luck."
hole in one
1. Lit. an instance of hitting a golf ball from the tee to the hole in only one try. (From the game of golf.) John made a hole in one yesterday. I've never gotten a hole in one.
2. Fig. an instance of succeeding the first time. It worked the first time I tried it—a hole in one. Bob got a hole in one on that sale. A lady walked in the door, and he sold her a car in five minutes.
hole in one
A perfect achievement, as in Tim scored a hole in one on that test. The term alludes to a perfect stroke in golf, where one drives the ball from the tee into the hole with a single stroke. [c. 1900]