English Conversation Idioms: Through the roof, Packed to the Gills

Confused by English idioms in conversations? Learn common expressions like through the roof and packed to the gills from Rachel’s English.

English Conversation Idioms: Through the Roof, Packed to the Gills introduces real expressions you’ll actually hear in everyday American English. In this conversational lesson, Rachel and her husband David explain common idioms that came up naturally during the week, helping you understand their meanings, when to use them, and how native speakers use them in context.

Why Learn Idioms from Real Conversations?

Idioms are everywhere in spoken English, but textbooks don’t always teach the expressions people actually use.

In this video, Rachel and David discuss idioms that came up during conversations about the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl win, showing you how these phrases naturally appear in everyday American English. Learning idioms this way makes them easier to remember—and easier to recognize when native speakers use them.

“Through the Roof”

One of the featured idioms is through the roof, which means something has reached a very high level.

Common meanings

• Extremely high confidence
• Very expensive prices
• Extremely high emotions

For example:

• Nick Foles’ confidence was through the roof.
• Housing prices are through the roof.

Related expressions

You’ll also hear similar idioms such as:

• Sky-high
• Hit the roof (to become very angry)
• Went through the roof (to become furious)

These expressions are common in both casual conversation and news coverage.

Understanding “Backup”

While discussing football, Rachel also explains the word backup.

A backup is someone or something that serves as a replacement when the first choice isn’t available.Examples include:

• A backup quarterback
• Backup food for a party
• A backup college choice

This vocabulary appears frequently outside of sports as well.

“Packed to the Gills”

Another everyday idiom is packed to the gills, meaning completely full or extremely crowded.

Examples include:

• A street packed to the gills with people
• A neighborhood packed to the gills with restaurants
• A refrigerator packed to the gills with food

Rachel also explains the surprising origin of this expression, which comes from preparing fish by stuffing them before cooking.

“Fish Out”

The lesson also explores the phrasal verb fish out.

It means to carefully retrieve something that’s difficult to reach.

Examples include:

• Fish the kale out of the refrigerator.
• Fish the scissors out of the junk drawer.
• Fish wires through a wall.

This practical phrasal verb is common in everyday American English.

Sports Vocabulary That Became Everyday English

Many English idioms originally came from sports and are now used in everyday conversation.

Rachel and David discuss several examples, including:

Second String

Someone who is the backup or isn’t the primary choice.

Hotly Debated

A topic that people discuss passionately with strong opinions on both sides.

Fluke

An unusually lucky or unexpected event that isn’t typical.

Hot or Cold

Someone whose performance is inconsistent—excellent at times and disappointing at others.

These expressions are useful far beyond sports conversations.

Why Sports Idioms Matter

Even if you don’t watch American football, sports have influenced countless English idioms.

Native speakers frequently use sports expressions in business, school, work, and everyday life without realizing their origins.

Learning these phrases helps you:

• Understand native conversations more easily
• Expand your conversational vocabulary
• Feel more confident watching American TV and sports broadcasts
• Recognize figurative language in everyday English

Key Takeaways

• Learn idioms from authentic conversations, not just vocabulary lists.
• Through the roof describes something that is extremely high.
• Packed to the gills means completely full or crowded.
• Fish out means to retrieve something that’s hard to reach.
• Sports have contributed many common English idioms that are used every day.
• Understanding idioms helps you follow conversations more naturally and speak with greater confidence.

Build Your Everyday English Vocabulary

One of the best ways to improve your English is by learning the expressions native speakers actually use. By studying real conversations and understanding the stories behind common idioms, you’ll develop stronger listening skills, richer vocabulary, and more natural English that prepares you for everyday conversations.