rolling in the deep
Not a standard idiom; best known as Adele’s song title. It’s often interpreted as being deeply involved or overwhelmed emotionally, but usage is not fixed in everyday English.
The phrase became widely recognized via Adele’s 2010 song “Rolling in the Deep.” While “in deep” can mean “deeply involved/in trouble,” this exact wording isn’t an established idiom outside the title/lyric context.
Outside references to the song, many speakers won’t treat this as a set idiom. If you mean “deeply involved” or “in serious trouble,” say that directly (“in deep,” “deeply involved,” etc.).
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After investing everything in that startup, he realized he was rolling in the deep when the market crashed.
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I told myself I’d only skim the report, but within an hour I was rolling in the deep with the data.
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Once the audit began, the company knew it was rolling in the deep and needed legal advice fast.
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She started learning Japanese for fun, and now she’s rolling in the deep with kanji study every night.
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They took on three major projects at once and ended up rolling in the deep, scrambling to meet deadlines.
Not a fixed idiom with stable grammar. “Rolling” is a present participle; without the song context it can sound incomplete. If you want an idiom-like alternative, use “in deep” (e.g., “I’m in deep”).
- in deep
- deeply involved
- in over one’s head
- up to one’s neck (in something)
- safe and sound
- on the surface