stuffed to the gills

1 7.6

Completely full with no space left

idiom

Informal

: hasta los topes

The holiday party's buffet table was stuffed to the gills with delicious treats.

Examples

Being stuffed to the gills with delicious food, I fully endorse this article.

Blog text (7)
After the feast, I was stuffed to the gills with food and could barely move.
The suitcase was stuffed to the gills with clothes for the week-long trip.

Synonyms

full of

vsstuffed to the gills

∞ 1.0

Containing a lot of something, like tears or facts

is more extreme, implying complete or excessive filling instead

crowded

vsstuffed to the gills

222 1.0

Full of too many people to move or sit comfortably

is closer to literal overfilling and often more extreme

packed with

vsstuffed to the gills

70 2.5

Full of many people or things

covers that fullness but may stress excessive overfilling

packed

vsstuffed to the gills

33 1.3

Full of people with no room left

is similar but can imply items are overflowing the space

to flooded with

vsstuffed to the gills

27 3.5

To get more things than you can handle

is similar but more commonly describes physical overfilling

chock-full

vsstuffed to the gills

23 4.1

So full that there is no space left

is equally full but can imply slight overfilling beyond capacity

jam-packed

vsstuffed to the gills

14 3.7

Very full and crowded with almost no space

is equally crowded but often feels even more overfilled

to the brim

vsstuffed to the gills

12 3.4

Filled to the top edge

is like that but often used when overfull or excessive

to overflowing

vsstuffed to the gills

3 4.2

So full that nothing more can fit

matches spillover meaning and is used in vivid informal contexts

to the gills

vsstuffed to the gills

Informal

3 8.0

Completely full with no room left

is similar and matches that extreme sense closely

chock-a-block

vsstuffed to the gills

1 8.2

So full that there is little or no space

matches that sense but more strongly suggests overfullness

packed to the rafters

vsstuffed to the gills

Informal

1 4.9

Completely full of people or things with no space left

is similar but may feel even more claustrophobic or overstuffed

chockablock

vsstuffed to the gills

1 7.9

Completely full of people or things

shares tightness but can suggest going beyond mere tight packing

brimful

vsstuffed to the gills

1 5.2

So full that it almost overflows

is similar but may imply going past the top edge

brimful of

vsstuffed to the gills

1 3.8

Full to the top with something, often a feeling

matches that focus but can also mean overly stuffed beyond top

jammed

vsstuffed to the gills

1 2.3

Full of people or things with no space left

is similar but more strongly suggests overfullness rather than just crowding

chockful

vsstuffed to the gills

6.3

Full so there is no room left

is similar but often suggests being overfilled or excessive

cram full

vsstuffed to the gills

3.0

Completely filled with things, like a bag or pocket, so nothing else fits

is similar but also suggests pushing beyond safe capacity

filled

vsstuffed to the gills

1.0

Full of something that takes up most of it

is the same idea but can also mean slightly overfilled

full to the gills

vsstuffed to the gills

Informal

6.6

Very full after a large meal or in a crowded place

is the idiomatic version that often stresses excessive fullness

choke-full

vsstuffed to the gills

7.0

Filled so tightly that there is no space left

emphasizes the same overflowing sense even more strongly

chuck-full

vsstuffed to the gills

6.1

Filled so nothing else can fit

is similar but often used with a stronger, vivid tone

loaded

vsstuffed to the gills

2.6

Full of things so it is heavy or crowded

is similar but often stresses excessive or extreme fullness

Antonyms

empty

∞ 1.0

Not containing anything

light

12 7.0

Weighing less than the correct or expected amount

How Full

to overflowing with

15 2.9

stuffed to the gills

Informal

1 7.6

stuffed like a turkey

Informal

1 9.1

stuffed

Informal

1 1.0

full

853 1.0

satisfied

38 1.0

Surface Forms

stuffed to the gills positive

Morphology

stuffed + to + the + gill

The core meaning 'very full' is directly signalled by 'stuffed', so a learner who knows that word can infer the general sense. However, 'to the gills' uses a metaphor based on fish anatomy that is not literally linked to fullness, so the intensifying image is not fully predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Stuffed to the gills paints a picture of a fish so full its gills look stretched, or of a container filled right up to the top. So, saying someone is stuffed to the gills means they are 'completely full'.