# drink from a firehose

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/drink-from-a-firehose
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be overwhelmed (with work, information, etc.); to be inundated with an unrestricted or unfiltered amount.

## Examples

- Starting this new job feels like drinking from a firehose.
- The new intern struggled to keep up with the project, feeling like he was drinking from a firehose during his first week.
- When the massive influx of data arrived, the research team realized they were drinking from a firehose and would need weeks to process it all.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.