JIH
what does "boatload of trouble" mean? "I'm in a boatload of trouble." I guess that means "I have a lot of trouble." Right?
Sep 30, 2015 1:09 PM
Answers · 4
1
It means 'I'm in a lot of trouble.' The basic idea is that there is so much trouble that you could fill a boat with it (metaphorically speaking.) 'I have a lot of trouble...' means something different.
September 30, 2015
In the U.S. for some reason, "a boatload" has become a slangy colloquial term for "a huge amount." In fact, checking, I see oxforddictionaries.com includes it as "informal: A large amount" under both U.S. and U.K. English. "Wow, we got a boatload of junk mail today." "There are a boatload of things I need to get before we go on our trip." (It is also fairly common for people to use a vulgar variation, "shitload." Don't try to use it yourself. Like most bad language, a non-native speaker won't be able to judge accurately when it is acceptable).
September 30, 2015
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