chockablock

or chock-a-block

[ chok-uh-blok ]

adjective

1. extremely full; crowded; jammed:

   a room chockablock with furniture and plants.

2. Nautical. having the blocks drawn close together, as when the tackle is hauled to the utmost.

adverb

1. in a crowded manner:

   books piled chockablock on the narrow shelf.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chockablock¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; chock (in the sense wedge) + -a- connnecting vowel that is probably a reduced form of and + block (in the sense solid mass of wood)

Example Sentences

This segment of our show proves that political ads are just straight up confusing, often self-contradictory, chockablock with sophomoric photoshop, yet still thriving despite the fact that everyone says they throw them out immediately.

From Voice of San Diego

I will miss them particularly this second year of not decamping to a chockablock pub to raise a pint.

From Washington Post

Very little, let’s hope, now that a year chockablock with ugly surprises—a list starting with the coronavirus pandemic—passes behind us.

From Quartz

After all, the Republican convention was chockablock with McCain doppelgangers.

From The Daily Beast

Quickly the enemy submarine maneuvered closer until the two craft 135 were almost chockablock.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• brimming
• loaded

More About Chockablock

What does chockablock mean?

Chockablock describes something, such as a space, that is filled to the utmost or extremely crowded.

Chockablock can describe anything that is literally filled to capacity, such as a room or a container, as in All the bins in the store were chockablock with sale items. 

Frequently, it is used to describe a space filled with people, as in The museum’s special exhibit of mummies was chockablock with people.

Chockablock can also be used figuratively to mean filled throughout, as in You’ll always find a place to eat because this neighborhood is chockablock with restaurants.

Chockablock also means in a crowded manner, as in After the concert let out, the subway trains were filled chockablock with concertgoers.

In nautical terms, chockablock means having the blocks drawn close together. In this situation, a block is a case that contains pulleys. On large ships, multiple blocks will often be used in tandem to create a pulley system known as a block and tackle, which is used to lift heavy weights or to open large sails with the use of a single rope or mechanism. When these blocks are pulled together so that they are touching while holding their full load, they are described as being chockablock.

Example: This place is chockablock with people. I think we should go somewhere else.

Where does chockablock come from?

The first records of the term chockablock come from around the 1790s. It combines the term chock, meaning “a wedge or block of wood,” -a-, which connects the two terms, and block, meaning “a solid mass of wood.” 

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to chockablock?

• chock-a-block (alternative spelling)
• chocker (noun)

What are some synonyms for chockablock?

• brimming
• loaded
• full

What are some words that share a root or word element with chockablock? 

• chock
• block
• chocker
• chockstone

What are some words that often get used in discussing chockablock?

• messy
• people
• buildings

How is chockablock used in real life?

Chockablock is almost always used informally to talk about something being overly full.

I thought that I would be clever and come to IKEA late at night to avoid the crowds but it's absolutely CHOCKABLOCK.

— SARAH CLOSE (@sarahclose) August 22, 2016

The scene here around the 18th green, with a mad wave of fans streaming in behind #TigerWoods, would have to be one of the better moments in a sport with a history chockablock with moments

— Chuck Culpepper (@ChuckCulpepper1) September 23, 2018

Can anyone please enlighten me as to why there is always chockablock traffic leading up to the Dartford tunnel. EVERY day & its not because of an accident. I mean MILES of traffic. Why?? #dartfordtunnel #dartfordbridge seriously it’s relentless.

— Jessica Wright (@MissJessWright_) July 28, 2019

 

Try using chockablock!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for chockablock?

A. packed
B. empty
C. full
D. brimming