Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

packed like sardines

/pækt laɪk sɑɹˈdinz/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.91 in modern English

Syllables: packed like sard-ines
IPA: /pækt laɪk sɑɹˈdinz/

32

Scrabble Score

18

Letters

2

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Densely packed; tightly squeezed together; crammed.

Informal

Example Sentences

"I'm pretty claustrophobic, so I didn't wanna hop in the elevator with them all packed like sardines in there."
"We're already packed in like sardines But we're stopping to pick up more, look out"
"Passengers are no longer "willing to be packed into trains like sardines", says London TravelWatch."

Etymology

Referring to sardines packed closely together in a tin (or can).

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /pækt laɪk sɑɹˈdinz/
British English: /pækt laɪk sɑːˈdiːnz/

Usage

Informal

Phrases

not enough room to swing a cat packed to the gills

Frequently Paired Words

sardinewise not enough room to swing a cat packed to the gills

Synonyms

cheek to jowl

Rhymes With

means by no means teens beans jeans magazines queens marines greens spill the beans submarines leans

Questions

How do you pronounce packed like sardines?: The recorded pronunciation is /pækt laɪk sɑɹˈdinz/.
What does packed like sardines mean?: Densely packed; tightly squeezed together; crammed.
Where does packed like sardines come from?: Referring to sardines packed closely together in a tin (or can).

How to pronounce packed like sardines

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “packed like sardines”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/pækt laɪk sɑɹˈdinz/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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