knee-deep in something

knee-deep in (something)

1. Literally, in or amongst something that reaches up to one's knees. Emergency crews were knee-deep in water as they tried to repair the burst water main. We emerged from the forest and found ourselves knee-deep in a field of wildflowers.

2. Having a plentiful or excessive amount or number of something. I'm always knee-deep in tests and book reports to grade at the end of the semester. Our office has been knee-deep in clothing and toys donated by people around the city for our charity drive.

3. Mired in or overwhelmed by something very difficult or troublesome. The company is knee-deep in scandal after an undercover journalist exposed its CEO's practice of bribing politicians. We're going to end up knee-deep in debt if our next product isn't a major success.

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

knee-deep in something

mod. having lots of something. (see also up to one’s knees.) We are knee-deep in orders and loving it.

See also: something

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.