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Glite Dictionary
to jump into the deep end

to jump into the deep end

1 7.8
Start a difficult task without much preparation or experience
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : lanzarse a lo profundo
  • When she accepted the lead role in the play with no acting background, she knew she was jumping into the deep end.

Examples

  • So, one day you just decided to jump into the deep end?

    Drone (2017)

  • I mean, it is as abrupt as let's just say you jump into the deep end of a swimming pool in ice cold water.

  • I mean, it is as abrupt as let's just say you jump into the deep end of a swimming pool in ice cold water.

  • I think that these "publications" you're talking about should spend time developing a viable business model before they jump into the deep end of publishing and seeking the contributions of writers and photographers.

    Blog text (2)

  • To improve my fitness, I decided to jump into the deep end and join a marathon training program without any prior experience.

  • Many people feel anxious about starting a new job, but sometimes it's best to just jump into the deep end and learn on the job.

Synonyms

to dive in
vsto jump into the deep end
  • Informal
23 3.7

Start doing something quickly and with a lot of energy

is about beginning difficult tasks without preparation or prior experience
to take the plunge
vsto jump into the deep end
18 5.5

Decide to do something difficult or risky after thinking about it for a long time

starts difficult tasks immediately without preparation rather than after long thought
to leap into the unknown
vsto jump into the deep end
  • Informal
1 7.3

To do something risky without knowing what will happen

emphasizes beginning hard tasks without preparation or prior experience

Antonyms

to prepare
∞ 1.3

Teach someone the skills they need for a job or role

How Prepared

to jump into
38 3.0
to give it a whirl
  • Informal
8 5.8
to dive in
  • Informal
23 3.7
to jump into the deep end
  • Informal
1 7.8
to fly blind
  • Informal
1 7.7

Surface Forms

jump into the deep end infinitive

Morphology

jump + into + the + deep + end

The phrase literally combines 'jump' + 'into' + 'deep end' to evoke entering a physically deep (and risky) area, so a learner who knows the constituent meanings can grasp the general idea of entering a difficult situation. However, the specific pragmatic sense of doing this without preparation or experience is a figurative extension of the spatial image and not fully predictable from the parts alone, so comprehension requires some metaphorical inference or prior exposure.

Etymology

The idiom jump into the deep end comes from the picture of someone jumping into the deepest part of a swimming pool. When you jump into the deep end you must swim right away or you will struggle, so the phrase now means 'to begin something difficult without preparation'.