drink from a firehose
Too much, fast
To drink from a firehose is to receive information or experience at an overwhelming rate and volume—far more than you can absorb or process.
The image is of someone trying to take a sip from a high-pressure stream meant to extinguish fires.
Common in work and academic contexts: My first week at the new job was like drinking from a firehose.
The phrase often describes onboarding, intensive training, or any situation where someone must learn vast amounts quickly.
- crash courseBrief, concentrated instruction
- steep learning curveDifficult initial skill acquisition
- hit the ground runningBegin working effectively immediately
- floodOverwhelming water overflow
- delugeSevere overflow of water
inundation · force · urgency · trial by fire · avalanche · bombardment · immersion · intensity · pressure · full throttle · hyperbole · figurative speech · sink or swim · overload · overwhelm · too much too fast · sensory overload · mental agility