ankle-deep

[ ang-kuhl-deep ]

adjective

1. high enough to reach or cover the ankles:

   ankle-deep mud.

2. deeply involved or entangled:

   He is ankle-deep in financial troubles.

adverb

1. as high as the ankles:

   Rainwater ran ankle-deep.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ankle-deep¹

First recorded in 1755–65

Example Sentences

In April 1917, an offensive by British and Canadian troops at the city of Arras in northern France bogged down in sleet, snow, and ankle-deep mud.

From Literature

“You would need two, three guys to push your boat about three-fourths of a mile in ankle-deep water.”

From New York Times

Nearby, three young men and a young woman stood ankle-deep in mud as a plow pushed debris to the side of the road.

From Los Angeles Times

The man rolled up his pants before dropping down into ankle-deep waste to to pull the bucket out.

From New York Times

A decade before, a Parisian street was an ankle-deep stream of horse droppings.

From Literature