ENGLISH
REFERENCE

packed to the gills

idiom
Meaning

Completely packed; very full or crowded.

Examples
SIMPLE

The small bus is packed to the gills today.

CONTEXTUAL

We arrived at the concert late, and the venue was already packed to the gills with excited fans.

COMPLEX

By the time the final guest arrived, the tiny apartment was packed to the gills, leaving barely enough room for anyone to move.

Anchors to
Related idioms4entries
  1. 01

    full to the gills

    Completely or overly full.

  2. 02

    green about the gills

    Ill or unwell, especially as indicated by one's appearance.

  3. 03

    packed to the rafters

    Completely full (of things, of stuff); packed; stuffed.

  4. 04

    stuffed to the gills

    Completely full.

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