Street
chock-a-block
What does chock-a-block mean?
Crammed full to capacity; often clipped to 'chocka'.
"The pub was chock-a-block on Friday."
Origin
Nautical term for blocks of a tackle drawn tight together; absorbed into general British slang.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'chock-a-block' mean?
It means crammed completely full, packed to capacity.
Where does 'chock-a-block' come from?
It's a nautical term describing the two blocks of a ship's tackle drawn tight together so no further movement is possible. It passed into everyday British speech to mean full up.
What is 'chocka'?
It's the common shortened form of chock-a-block, as in 'The pub was chocka on Friday.'
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