full to the gills

Examples

• All

• The bus was full to the gills during rush hour.

• By the end of the harvest, the storage barns were full to the gills with grain.

• At the concert, the stadium was full to the gills with fans from all over the country.

• After the party, the fridge was full to the gills with leftovers.

• The bus was full to the gills during rush hour, leaving no empty seats for passengers.

• At the concert, the stadium was full to the gills with fans from all over the country, making it a vibrant event.

• After the party, the fridge was full to the gills with leftovers, enough to last the entire week.

Synonyms

C

crowded

vsfull to the gills

222 1.0

Full of too many people to move or sit comfortably

focuses on extreme fullness rather than discomfort alone

P

packed

vsfull to the gills

33 1.3

Full of people with no room left

is a colorful idiom saying the same complete fullness

C

chock-full

vsfull to the gills

23 4.1

So full that there is no space left

means the same but is a common informal expression

J

jam-packed

vsfull to the gills

14 3.7

Very full and crowded with almost no space

shares tight fullness but is more colloquial in tone

W

wall-to-wall

vsfull to the gills

14 4.2

Completely full of people or things with no space to move

expresses full capacity but as a compact idiomatic image

F

fully booked

vsfull to the gills

5 2.4

People have reserved all places, rooms, or tickets

applies to any crowded or completely full situation, not only bookings

S

stuffed to the gills

vsfull to the gills

• Informal

1 7.6

Completely full with no space left

conveys the same extreme fullness without the added image

P

packed to the rafters

vsfull to the gills

• Informal

1 4.9

Completely full of people or things with no space left

is similar but uses a short idiom for full capacity

C

chockablock

vsfull to the gills

• UK

1 7.9

Completely full of people or things

is the same idea expressed as a vivid idiom

B

brimful

vsfull to the gills

1 5.2

So full that it almost overflows

expresses full capacity but without stressing overflow

J

jammed

vsfull to the gills

1 2.3

Full of people or things with no space left

uses a vivid idiom to express the same crowded state

C

chockful

vsfull to the gills

6.3

Full so there is no room left

focuses on the same full state with more everyday tone

C

choke-full

vsfull to the gills

7.0

Filled so tightly that there is no space left

describes fullness similarly but with less violent imagery

C

chuck-full

vsfull to the gills

• US

6.1

Filled so nothing else can fit

describes the same total fullness in a more neutral way

Antonyms

E

empty

∞ 1.0

Not containing anything

V

vacant

104 2.6

Not occupied by anyone, for example a seat or job

U

unfilled

7 4.1

Not yet finished or given for jobs and orders

How Full

to overflowing with

15 2.9

full to the gills

• Informal

6.6

full

∞ 1.0

empty

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology