neckdeep

English

Alternative forms

• neck deep
• neck-deep

Etymology

From neck +‎ deep; for more, see up to here.

Adjective

neckdeep (not comparable)

1. Reaching up to the neck.
2. Submerged up to the neck.

   Coordinate terms: elbow-deep, knee-deep, waist-deep

   • 1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 241:

     This gave me a hint, and I went knee-deep, and sometimes neck-deep, in the Red Weed. The density of the weed gave me a reassuring sense of hiding.

3. Very deeply involved (in something) or preoccupied (with something).
   • 2018 December 1, Drachinifel, 1:18 from the start, in Anti-Slavery Patrols - The West Africa Squadron‎, archived from the original on 29 November 2024:

     By the start of the 19th century, Europe was neckdeep in the Napoleonic Wars, which, at various times, amounted to the British Empire against Europe, and, at others, involved Britain subsidising various nations, such as Austria and Prussia, against Napoleon.

Synonyms

• (all senses): up to one's neck