chock-a-block

1 8.2

So full that there is little or no space

adverb
/ˈtʃɑk ə blɑk/

: abarrotado

During the holidays, the shopping mall was chock-a-block with people buying gifts.
chock-a-block full

It's a big pub, the Orchard and the whole green outside was chock a block.

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Examples

Just go to any campsites in southern Spain and Portugal during the winter, and you'll find the places chock-a-block with Danish and Dutch reg plates.

Blog text (24)
I mean, just the the Hall of Fame is chock a block, as my wife would say, with people that you have trained.

Tom Bilyeu
Listen mate, the history of science is chock-a-block full of controversies where very intelligent people looking at the same evidence came to different conclusions.

Blog text (30)
This is my pencil case that's just chock a block with brand new sharpies which makes me so happy.
The pancakes are chock-a-block full of tiny pieces of cut scallion and are very flavorful.

Blog text (21)
Unsurprisingly, the discs are chock-a-block with features including songs and artwork that didn't make the cut back in 1950.

Blog text (4)
The theater was chock-a-block with enthusiastic fans waiting for the concert to start.
The kitchen was chock-a-block with dishes from the dinner party we hosted last night.

Synonyms

packed with

vschock-a-block

70 2.5

Full of many people or things

is about physical crowding or tight packing, not just abundance

chock-full

vschock-a-block

23 4.1

So full that there is no space left

is about tight packing and crowding rather than just capacity

jam-packed

vschock-a-block

14 3.7

Very full and crowded with almost no space

is the broader tight-packed sense, not only busy places

wall-to-wall

vschock-a-block

14 4.2

Completely full of people or things with no space to move

is the same packed meaning but not limited to whole-width coverage

packed

vschock-a-block

12 1.3

Pressed tightly together in a small space

focuses more on crowding and fullness in spaces than compression

stuffed to the gills

vschock-a-block

Informal

1 7.6

Completely full with no space left

describes tight packed state without necessarily being overfull

packed to the rafters

vschock-a-block

Informal

1 4.9

Completely full of people or things with no space left

is the general tight full idea, not only extreme maximum images

chockablock

vschock-a-block

1 7.9

Completely full of people or things

is the same meaning but is an alternate written form

jammed

vschock-a-block

1 2.3

Full of people or things with no space left

is the general packed tight meaning, including objects or people

chockful

vschock-a-block

6.3

Full so there is no room left

focuses on tight crowding rather than only being full

chuck-full

vschock-a-block

6.1

Filled so nothing else can fit

stresses crowding and lack of space more than mere fullness

choke-full

vschock-a-block

7.0

Filled so tightly that there is no space left

stresses tight crowding without implying actual overflow

cram full

vschock-a-block

3.0

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

emphasizes crowded situations with people rather than tight filling

serried

vschock-a-block

Literature

9.6

Standing very close together with little space between them

applies to crowded places generally, not only orderly rows

Antonyms

empty

∞ 1.0

Not containing anything

vacant

104 2.6

Not occupied by anyone, for example a seat or job

How Full

chock-a-block

1 8.2

packed

12 1.3

full

∞ 1.0

empty

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

chock-a-block positive

Etymology

Chock-a-block comes from old ships where two wooden rope blocks could be pulled so close they met and jammed. The chock part meant 'a wedge', so chock-a-block means 'packed very tightly' or 'completely full'.