up to one's neck
Completely immersed in
Up to one's neck describes being deeply involved in or overwhelmed by something, usually a difficult or unpleasant situation.
The image is of someone submerged so far that only their head remains above water.
I'm up to my neck in paperwork this week.
The phrase often implies that the situation is barely manageable or that one has little room to take on anything else.
Variants include up to one's ears and up to one's eyeballs, which suggest even greater immersion.
Overwhelmed beyond capacity
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
- snowed underOverwhelmed by obligations
- drowningDeath by water inhalation
- floodedCovered with water
deluged · besieged · bombarded · overloaded · overextended · stretched thin · at capacity · maxed out
Wholly absorbed in something
- absorbedTook in fully
- preoccupiedMentally elsewhere, not present
- entangledTwisted together inseparably
- enmeshedCaught in complexity
caught up in · wrapped up in · embroiled · mired · knee-deep · waist-deep · committed · invested
Made heavy by burden
- ladenHeavily weighted down
- overburdenedCarrying more than manageable
- encumberedMade difficult to move
- strappedLacking available funds
taxed · oppressed · beset · afflicted · plagued · troubled · hampered · bogged down
Owing money owed
- owingYet to be paid
- leveragedEmployed for advantage
- underwaterBelow the surface
- overextendedBeyond sustainable capacity
in arrears · mortgaged · maxed out · in the red · upside down
swamped
Overwhelmed beyond capacity
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
- snowed underOverwhelmed by obligations
- drowningDeath by water inhalation
flooded · deluged · besieged · bombarded · overloaded · overextended · stretched thin · at capacity · maxed out · buried
engrossed
Wholly absorbed in something
- absorbedTook in fully
- preoccupiedMentally elsewhere, not present
- entangledTwisted together inseparably
caught up in · wrapped up in · enmeshed · embroiled · mired · knee-deep · waist-deep · committed · invested · occupied
weighed down
Made heavy by burden
- ladenHeavily weighted down
- overburdenedCarrying more than manageable
- encumberedMade difficult to move
strapped · taxed · oppressed · beset · afflicted · plagued · troubled · hampered · bogged down · loaded down
in debt
Owing money owed
- owingYet to be paid
- leveragedEmployed for advantage
- underwaterBelow the surface
overextended · in arrears · mortgaged · maxed out · in the red · upside down
up to one's neckuninvolved
Not taking part
disengaged · detached · on the sidelines · hands-off · removed
up to one's neckfree as a bird
Entirely without restrictions
free and clear · unburdened · at leisure · idle · unoccupied
up to one's neckin the clear
Free of blame or danger
out of the woods · off the hook · scot-free · home free · trouble-free
ones, neck, necks, necked, necking, neckline, necklace, bottleneck, redneck