up to their necks
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective Phrase:
- Extremely involved or deeply immersed in a situation, typically an unpleasant or demanding one: The phrase describes a state of being overwhelmed or fully occupied by something, often a problem, task, or obligation, to the point of having little or no capacity to handle more.
Usage
- This phrase is used to emphasize a high degree of involvement, usually in a negative or burdensome context. It functions as a predicative adjective, following a linking verb like "be," "are," or "were."
- It is commonly followed by the preposition "in" to specify the situation (e.g., "in debt," "in work," "in trouble").
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "Up to one's neck": The possessive pronoun can change to match the subject (e.g., "I'm up to my neck," "She is up to her neck").
- I'm up to my neck in meetings this week.
- The phrase can be used figuratively in various contexts beyond debt or work, such as legal trouble, bureaucracy, or personal problems.
- The company is up to its neck in lawsuits.
- Politically, he's up to his neck in scandal.
Variants and Related Words
- Neck-deep (adj./adv.): Functionally synonymous, meaning deeply involved or submerged. Often used interchangeably with "up to one's neck."
- They are neck-deep in preparations for the event.
- Swamped (adj.): Overwhelmed with a large amount of something.
- I'm completely swamped with emails.
Synonyms
- Overwhelmed: Burdened with too many things.
- Bogged down: Stuck and unable to make progress due to complexity or volume.
- Inundated: Flooded with an excessive amount.
Related Idioms
- In over one's head: Involved in a situation that is too difficult to handle.
- He took on the manager role but is in over his head.
- Up to one's ears/eyeballs: Similar idioms emphasizing being completely full of or surrounded by something.
- She's up to her ears in assignments.
Adjective
- deeply involved
- neck-deep in work
- up to their necks in debt