2/22/09

Brit' Word of the Day

Today's BWOTD is very commonly used:

"I got everything in there, but the car was chock-a-block"

'Chock-a-block' = closely/tightly packed together

This comes from a maritime term, referring to when a block and tackle were jammed against each other to stop a load from moving. That's our lengthy British sea-faring history coming in to play!

We also abbreviate this alot and just say something is 'choc-a'.

5 comments:

Sandi McBride said...

I heard chockablock all my life from my little Scottish (Great)Granny...who could fit more crap into one closet than any living mortal I've ever seen. We often suspected that Great Grandpa Danial was in amidst the chockablock rather than the cemetery! Great word for the day, Sarah!
Sandi

Anonymous said...

I say something is "chock-full" of goodies. Means the same thing...

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Never heard of chockablock, Sarah.. But I have heard of something being 'chock full' of something...

Hope you are having a wonderful trip.
Hugs,
Betsy

Winifred said...

Never knew where the saying came from. Thanks Sarah, nice to know.

Kris said...

I hear this phrase all the time and never quite understood what it meant until now. I don't know why I never bothered asking anyone before.