# packed to the gills

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/packed-to-the-gills
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Completely packed; very full or crowded.

## Examples

- The small bus is packed to the gills today.
- We arrived at the concert late, and the venue was already packed to the gills with excited fans.
- By the time the final guest arrived, the tiny apartment was packed to the gills, leaving barely enough room for anyone to move.

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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.