# drown in

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drown-in
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to have too much of something to deal with, or to be covered by a large amount of something.

For teachers: to be overwhelmed by an excessive amount of something; often used metaphorically for tasks, debt, or sensory input.

## Examples

- I am drowning in paperwork this week.
- The small charity was drowning in donations after the video went viral on social media.
- Despite the company's outward success, the accounts revealed they were drowning in debt and unable to meet their immediate obligations.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is drowning with work." but "He is drowning in work." — the verb 'drown' collocations with the preposition 'in' to show the environment that is overwhelming the person.

## Usage notes

- usually used in the continuous form ('drowning in') to describe a current state of being overwhelmed.
- Teaching tip: help students distinguish between the literal sense (dying in water) and this figurative sense by focusing on uncountable nouns like 'work', 'debt', or 'emails'.

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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.