different between completely vs chockablock

English

Etymology

complete +? -ly

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?m?pli?tli/
• Hyphenation: com?plete?ly

Adverb

completely (comparative more completely, superlative most completely)

1. (manner) In a complete manner
   • 1969, E.R. Zumwalt, Jr., Silver Star Citation - John Kerry,

     Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY immediately maneuvered his craft through several strafing runs which completely silenced the enemy.

2. (degree) To the fullest extent or degree; totally.
   • 1968 June 8, Edward M. Kennedy, Tribute to Senator Robert F. Kennedy,

     Our future may lie beyond our vision, but it is not completely beyond our control.

   • 1975, Helen Schucman, A Course in Miracles/Workbook for Students, Lesson 75: The light has come,

     Keep a completely open mind, washed of all past ideas and clean of every concept you have made.

Synonyms

• (in a complete manner): fully, totally, utterly
• (to the fullest degree): fully, totally, utterly
• See also Thesaurus:completely

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• chock-a-block
• chock a block
• choc-a-bloc

Etymology

chock + a + block

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t??k??bl?k/

Adjective

chockablock (comparative more chockablock, superlative most chockablock)

1. (nautical) (of a ship's hoisting tackle) Having the blocks drawn close together so no further movement is possible, as when the tackle is hauled to the utmost.
2. (by extension) Jammed tightly together; very crowded; completely filled or stuffed.

   Some of Sardinia's gorgeous seaside towns have lately been invaded by builders who erected chockablock housing that catered to middle-income tourists but threatened to spoil the landscape.

Derived terms

• chock
• chocka
• chocker
• chockers
• chokka

Translations

Adverb

chockablock (comparative more chockablock, superlative most chockablock)

1. In a crowded manner; as completely or closely as possible.

   His study had books stacked chockablock on every shelf.

   The meeting hall was chockablock full of angry citizens.

   • 2012, The Economist, Oct 13th 2012, Free exchange: Concrete gains

     AMERICA is full of vast, empty spaces. Europe, by contrast, seems chock-a-block with humanity, its history shaped by a lack of continental elbowroom.

Related terms

• chockful, chockfull, chock-full, chock full