chockablock

See also: chock-a-block and chock a block

English

Alternative forms

• chock-a-block, chock a block, choc-a-bloc

Etymology

From chock +‎ -a- +‎ block.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃɒkəˌblɒk/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

chockablock (comparative more chockablock, superlative most chockablock)

1. (nautical, of a ship's hoisting tackle) Having the blocks drawn close together so no further movement is possible, as when the tackle is hauled to the utmost.
2. (by extension) Jammed tightly together, jam-packed; very crowded; completely filled or stuffed.
   • 2009 March 27, Alexis Petridis, “Electronic review: Fever Ray, Fever Ray”, in The Guardian‎:

     Dance music is chockablock with anonymous artists, but few have concealed themselves with quite the dedication of the Knife.

   • 2022 October 9, Peter Conrad, “Confidence Man: The Making of Trump and the Breaking of America review […] ”, in The Observer‎:

     Haberman’s book is chockablock with scoops, comprehensively leaked to the press before publication, but what singles it out from the competition is its perceptiveness about Trump’s character and the way his private vices became public menaces.

   • 2024 March 18, Allison Aubrey, “Millions of women are 'under-muscled.' These foods help build strength”, in NPR:

     Fish is chockablock full of protein.

Derived terms

• chock
• chocka
• chocker
• chockers
• chokka

Translations

jammed tightly together, crowded

Hungarian: dugig van Russian: битко́м наби́тый m (bitkóm nabítyj), перепо́лненный (ru) m (perepólnennyj) Spanish: de bote en bote (es)

See also

• chock full

Adverb

chockablock (comparative more chockablock, superlative most chockablock)

1. In a crowded manner; as completely or closely as possible.

   His study had books stacked chockablock on every shelf.

   The meeting hall was chockablock full of angry citizens.

   • 2012 October 13, “Free exchange: Concrete gains”, in The Economist‎:

     AMERICA is full of vast, empty spaces. Europe, by contrast, seems chock-a-block with humanity, its history shaped by a lack of continental elbowroom.

Related terms

• chockful, chockfull, chock-full, chock full