Idiom
in at the deep end
Meaning
Placed in a complex situation (especially work-related) without adequate preparation or experience.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“My new boss threw me in at the deep end today.”
“You are in at the deep end during your first week of teaching.”
“She feels in at the deep end because nobody explained the rules.”
“They gave me a huge project on my first day, throwing me in at the deep end.”
“I had never used this software before, but the team put me in at the deep end by asking me to lead the presentation.”
“When the lead singer got sick, the young guitarist was thrown in at the deep end to perform for thousands of fans.”
“Despite his lack of formal training, the manager was thrown in at the deep end to lead the company through its most difficult financial crisis.”
Examples
simple
“My new boss threw me in at the deep end today.”
“You are in at the deep end during your first week of teaching.”
“She feels in at the deep end because nobody explained the rules.”
contextual
“They gave me a huge project on my first day, throwing me in at the deep end.”
“I had never used this software before, but the team put me in at the deep end by asking me to lead the presentation.”
“When the lead singer got sick, the young guitarist was thrown in at the deep end to perform for thousands of fans.”
complex
“Despite his lack of formal training, the manager was thrown in at the deep end to lead the company through its most difficult financial crisis.”
Origin
The phrase is derived from the physical gradient of a swimming pool, which progresses from a shallow end intended for beginners to a deeper section reserved for experienced swimmers. It suggests the sudden immersion of an individual into the latter without the benefit of the former.
Key words
Related idioms
- Updated