neck deep
Up to here
Neck deep describes being immersed in something up to the neck—literally in water, or figuratively in work, trouble, or any consuming situation.
The phrase emphasizes depth of involvement: We're neck deep in debt, She was neck deep in wedding preparations.
Sometimes written as a hyphenated adjective: neck-deep in paperwork.
Below water's surface
- plungedDropped suddenly and steeply
- engulfedCompletely swallowed up
- absorbedTook in fully
- engrossedWholly absorbed in something
steeped · entrenched · enmeshed · wrapped up · caught up · consumed · preoccupied · fixated
Overwhelmed beyond capacity
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
- drowningDeath by water inhalation
- buriedPlaced beneath earth
- snowed underOverwhelmed by obligations
overloaded · besieged · bombarded · flooded · deluged · overburdened · overextended · stressed
Wholly committed to something
- devotedLoyally and lovingly attached
- investedAllocated funds strategically
- pledgedFormally promised something
- engagedPledged to marry
involved · bound · obligated · all in · locked in · tied up · entangled · enmeshed
Complete in every detail
- exhaustiveCovering all possibilities
- comprehensiveIncluding all elements
- demandingRequiring great effort
- rigorousExtremely thorough and careful
concentrated · focused · meticulous · arduous · strenuous · sustained · relentless · grueling
submerged
Below water's surface
engrossed · steeped · entrenched · enmeshed · wrapped up · caught up · consumed · preoccupied · fixated · invested
swamped
Overwhelmed beyond capacity
snowed under · overloaded · besieged · bombarded · flooded · deluged · overburdened · overextended · stressed · pressured
dedicated
Wholly committed to something
- devotedLoyally and lovingly attached
- investedAllocated funds strategically
- pledgedFormally promised something
engaged · involved · bound · obligated · all in · locked in · tied up · entangled · enmeshed
thorough
Complete in every detail
- exhaustiveCovering all possibilities
- comprehensiveIncluding all elements
- demandingRequiring great effort
rigorous · concentrated · focused · meticulous · arduous · strenuous · sustained · relentless · grueling · laborious
- burnoutburned out, burnt out, burn out, burning out, burnout
- hobbyist levelsbeginner, novice, intermediate, advanced, expert
- predicamentspredicament, dilemma, bind, pickle, pinch
neck deepbone dry
Totally devoid of moisture
knee deep · high and dry · wading · floating · dry
neck deepuninvolved
Not taking part
free and clear · disengaged · detached · on the sidelines · unentangled
neck, deep, necks, necked, necking, neckline, necklace, bottleneck, deeper