English Reference
Idiom idiom

packed to the gills


Completely packed; very full or crowded.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


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.


Related idioms8entries
  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

    pack fudge

    To perform anal sex.

  4. 04

    pack heat

    To carry one or more handguns on one's person, especially in a concealed manner.

  5. 05

    pack in

    To give up, to quit.

  6. 06

    pack of lies

    Total lies, complete untruth

  7. 07

    pack shit

    To be scared or frightened.

  8. 08

    packed to the rafters

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

Last updated August 10, 2026