chock-a-block
adjective /ˌtʃɒk ə ˈblɒk/
/ˌtʃɑːk ə ˈblɑːk/
(especially British English) (British English also chocka
[not before noun] (informal) /ˈtʃɒkə/
/ˈtʃɑːkə/
)- chock-a-block (with something/somebody) very full of things or people pressed close together
- The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments.
- It was chock-a-block in town today (= full of people).
Word Originmid 19th cent. (originally in nautical use, with reference to tackle having the two blocks run close together): from chock (in chock-full) and block.