full to the gunwales

The phrase "full to the gunwales" is an idiom used to describe something or someone that is completely full or packed to its maximum capacity. The term "gunwales" refers to the upper edges of a boat's sides, and when something is "full to the gunwales," it suggests that the boat is so heavily loaded that the waterline is almost at the edge of the boat or even overflowing. It can be used metaphorically to describe a situation where there is no more space or capacity left for additional things or people.