chock-a-block

/'tʃɔkə'blɔk/

Thân thiện

The storage room was chock-a-block with cardboard boxes.

Definition

1. Adverb:

   • As completely as possible; packed or crammed to the point where no more can be added. It describes a state of being extremely full or crowded.

2. Adjective (Predicative):

   • Extremely full or crowded. Used after a verb like 'be' or 'get' to describe a space or container.

Usage

• The word is used to emphasize that a place, container, or situation is so full that nothing more can fit.
• It is often followed by the preposition 'with' to specify what the space is full of.
• It is a colloquial term, more common in informal speech and writing.

Examples

• Adverb:
  • The stadium was chock-a-block for the final match.
  • The shelves were chock-a-block with old books.
• Adjective:
  • The train was chock-a-block during rush hour.
  • My schedule is chock-a-block this week.

Advanced Usage

• "chock-a-block with [something]": This is the most common construction.
  • The report was chock-a-block with technical jargon.
• Used to describe abstract concepts like schedules or information being very full.
  • The meeting agenda is absolutely chock-a-block.

Variants and Related Words

• Chock-full (adj.): Completely full. (Often considered a variant or synonym).
  • The glass was chock-full of juice.
• Chock (n./v.): A wedge or block used to prevent movement. (The origin of the term, from nautical use where blocks were pulled tight together).

Synonyms

• Packed: Filled with a large number of people or things.
• Crammed: Forced into a space that is too small.
• Bursting: So full as to be almost breaking open.
• Jam-packed: Extremely crowded or full. (Very close in meaning and register).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Full to the brim: Completely full.
• Packed to the rafters: Extremely crowded (often for a building or room).
• Full to capacity: Containing as much or as many as possible.

Học thuật

Adverb

1. as completely as possible
   • it was chock-a-block full

Từ đồng nghĩa

• chock