cave
large natural underground space
A big natural hole or room in rock or under the ground, usually with an opening you can go into.
a cave in [a cliff / a mountain / the hillside]
- They found shelter in a small cave during the storm.
- Tourists come from all over the world to see the famous limestone cave.
- We needed flashlights because the cave was completely dark after the first few meters.
- Bats flew out of the cave at sunset, filling the sky.
- Ancient paintings on the cave walls showed animals and hunting scenes.
- We walked into a dark cave.
- There is a big cave under the mountain.
- Bears sometimes sleep in a cave in winter.
- The children were excited to explore the cave.
- It was cold and wet inside the cave.
collapse inward suddenly
To suddenly fall down or fall in, usually when the top or sides of something can no longer hold up.
[roof / ceiling / tunnel] caves in
- The old warehouse roof finally caved in after the heavy snowfall.
- Rescuers rushed to the mine after part of a tunnel caved in.
- The weight of the wet soil caused the side of the trench to cave in.
- Everyone ran outside when the ceiling started to crack and then caved in.
- Be careful where you step; the ice could cave in under your weight.
- The roof caved in during the storm.
- The tunnel caved in and blocked the road.
- After the fire, part of the building caved in.
- The ice on the lake might cave in if it is too thin.
- The wall suddenly caved in and made a loud noise.
yield or give in under pressure
To finally say yes or accept something after you tried to say no, usually because other people keep asking or the situation is too hard.
to cave (in) to [someone / something]
- The company refused to cave to public pressure and kept its original plan.
- After hours of arguing, he finally caved and agreed to come with us.
- The government is under fire for caving in to the demands of lobbyists.
- She never caves in to peer pressure, even when all her friends are doing it.
- They threatened to strike, hoping management would cave in and raise wages.
- After many questions, he caved and told them the secret.
- The parents did not cave in to their child’s demands for more toys.
- The boss finally caved to pressure and changed the rule.
- She did not want to go, but she caved and went to the party.
- The team will not cave in, even if it is hard.
- Base: cave
- Plural: caves
- Base: cave
- 3rd Person Singular: caves
- Present Participle: caving
- Past: caved
cave in
1for a structure to collapse inward
When the top or side of something, like a roof, wall, or tunnel, suddenly falls in.
- The mine shaft caved in, trapping several workers inside.
- Heavy snow caused the stadium roof to cave in overnight.
- Parts of the road caved in after the flood.
cave in to
1stop resisting and accept demands
To finally agree to what someone wants because of pressure, even if you did not want to agree before.
- The school refused to cave in to the parents’ demands.
- Under public pressure, the mayor eventually caved in to the protesters and changed the policy.
- He always caves in to his children when they cry.
go caving
1explore caves for fun
To visit and explore caves as a sport or hobby.
- We’re planning to go caving in the national park this weekend.
- She went caving for the first time on her holiday in Slovenia.
- They joined a local club so they could go caving safely with experienced guides.
man cave
1a man's private hobby room
A room in a house where a man keeps his things and relaxes, often with a TV, games, or tools, and where he can be alone or with his friends.
- He turned the basement into a man cave with a big screen and a pool table.
- The garage has become his man cave, filled with tools and old car parts.
- She joked that the spare room was his man cave and the kitchen was hers.