ankle-deep

American  

[ang-kuhl-deep] / ˈæŋ kəlˈdip /

adjective

1. high enough to reach or cover the ankles.

   ankle-deep mud.

2. deeply involved or entangled.

   He is ankle-deep in financial troubles.

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adverb

1. as high as the ankles.

   Rainwater ran ankle-deep.

Etymology

Origin of ankle-deep

First recorded in 1755–65

Example Sentences

Jonathan took off his shoes and socks and waded in ankle-deep, curling his toes around the small stones that covered the lake bottom.

From Literature

It was as if the offense was ankle-deep in mud, a credit of course to New England’s swarming defense.

From Los Angeles Times

Holmes’ feed is a babbling stream of self-help epigrams, ankle-deep reflections and many, many photos of herself.

From Los Angeles Times

The company was fined more than $112,000 by Nevada’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration in late 2023 after workers complained of “ankle-deep” water in the tunnels, muck spills and burns.

From Salon

Flooding was also reported on the Isles of Scilly, with St Mary's resident Samaya Reid saying her family had come home from a night out to find "ankle-deep water" on their road.

From BBC