standing-room-only
No seats left
Standing-room-only describes a venue or event so crowded that all seats are taken and attendees must stand.
The phrase originated with theaters and concert halls that sold cheap tickets for standing spaces after seating sold out.
It now applies to any packed situation: The lecture was standing-room-only by the time the professor arrived.
Often hyphenated when used as an adjective before a noun, it suggests both popularity and limited capacity.
Filled to capacity
- sold-outNo inventory remaining
- overflowExceed capacity and spill
- sardinesSmall canned herring relatives
- jammedUnable to move freely
crammed · shoulder-to-shoulder · overflowing · maxed-out · bursting · mobbed · thronged · swamped
Live musical performance
- theaterVenue for live drama
- arenaVenue for contests
- stadiumLarge venue for spectators
- auditoriumRoom for spectators
Broadway · premiere · encore · blockbuster · sellout · venue · box-office · tickets
Powered by current
- buzzingLow vibrating hum
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
- energyPower to do work
frenzy · roaring · thunderous · applause · cheering · pandemonium · euphoria · tension
packed
Filled to capacity
- sold-outNo inventory remaining
- overflowExceed capacity and spill
- sardinesSmall canned herring relatives
jammed · crammed · shoulder-to-shoulder · overflowing · maxed-out · bursting · mobbed · thronged · swamped · filled
concert
Live musical performance
auditorium · Broadway · premiere · encore · blockbuster · sellout · venue · box-office · tickets · show
electric
Powered by current
- buzzingLow vibrating hum
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
energy · frenzy · roaring · thunderous · applause · cheering · pandemonium · euphoria · tension · charged
popular
Widely admired by many
- sought-afterMuch wanted by many
- must-seeCannot be skipped
- phenomenonExtraordinary observable occurrence
sensation · craze · hype · waitlist · scalpers · resale · premium · exclusive · limited · coveted
standing-room-onlyempty
Holding nothing inside
deserted · vacant · half-empty · unoccupied · plenty of room
stand, standing, stands, room, roomed, rooming, roomy, roomier, roomiest