ENGLISH
REFERENCE

throw in at the deep end

idiom
Meaning

To introduce (someone) to a new situation without adequate preparation.

Origin

disputed origin

From allusion to an actual swimming pool with a shallow end and deep end. In the shallow end, a person can stand on the bottom. In the deep end, the water is too deep to do this, so a person must be able to swim or at least tread water or drown.

Examples
SIMPLE

My boss threw me in at the deep end on my first day.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager threw the new intern in at the deep end by asking her to lead the meeting alone.

COMPLEX

Without any prior training, the company threw the new recruit in at the deep end, forcing him to manage the entire project while the team was away.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all ends up

    Completely; totally.

  2. 02

    arse end of nowhere

    A very remote place.

  3. 03

    big end of town

    The top end of town.

  4. 04

    bitter end

    The end of a long and difficult process.

  5. 05

    burn the candle at both ends

    To work hard night and day; to sleep late and wake up early; to overwork or overexert oneself.

  6. 06

    business end

    The part of an object (chiefly a tool or weapon) that is physically used for its operation, rather than some other part such as the part by which it is held.

  7. 07

    come to a sticky end

    To die unpleasantly due to one's actions.

  8. 08

    come to an end

    To stop; to cease; to no longer continue.

Last updated April 17, 2026