The guys didn’t know it, but they were looking down a deep hole. Well, a cave or sinkhole would be the technical terms. Charles was sweating in the heat of the beating sun. His helmet smudged the dirt on his forehead. He looked over to his friend, Jonah, to see how he was getting along.
–So, how do you feel about going down? You’re not having second thoughts, are you? Charles asked.
Jonah responded, –What? Second thoughts! I’m not scared. Besides, we paid all that money to go down into this deep hole.
–Oh, I’m not scared. I was just making sure you weren’t gonna run at the last minute. Life is too short to miss out on self-enriching opportunities like … deep cave diving.
Jonah laughed a bit.
–Wow, I didn’t know you were so deep, my friend.
Deep
“Deep” normally has the meaning of something with a large depth, like deep water or a deep hole, in this case. As a figurative expression deep has a similar meaning of depth or something being profound. The difference is that it has to do with a topic or idea that is very thoughtful, meaningful, or sincere. Sometimes people can say this in a sarcastic way, but the idea is still the same.
Read more: some literal and figurative meanings of Deep
Besides, we paid all that money to go down into this deep hole.
- To go down into a hole with a lot of physical depth, deep into the earth.
–Wow, I didn’t know you were so deep, my friend.
- I didn’t know you were so thoughtful, that you had such profound and meaningful ideas.
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Storytime …
Charles told him, –Yeah, I’m always coming up with cool ideas. I’m starting to really consider leaving my job at the college and just working full-time at the theater. It’s the pandemic anyway, so forget it.
At that moment, the caving instructor, Amy, found the two friends chatting.
–Okay, that’s all the equipment, fellas. Ready to go spelunking? Amy asked.
Jonah and Charles gazed at each other with a dumbfound look. A lightbulb then clicked over Jonah’s head.
–Ohhh! You mean cave diving. I had to think for a second.
Amy laughed and took the lead moving downward into the deep dark cavern. Jonah followed soon before Charles and talked with him on the way down.
–So you said you’re going to do stage design full time. How’s that going?
Charles told him, –I don’t know. I’d like to just walk away and commit to the theater, but I’m afraid I might be in too deep with the financial department.
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In Deep – Deep Into
Taking in the same meaning of “deep,” being deep into something gives the sense that one is deeply committed to a situation or person. This could be a positive thing, like being in a serious relationship. However, it can also give off the sense that someone is into something they can’t escape from. This can show that the person is in some kind of trouble they can’t get out of. The same idea comes from the expression in deep, though this one is usually for romantic situations.
… but I’m afraid I might be in too deep with the financial department.
- I might have too big of a commitment, too much to risk, I might be stuck at my current job. Also could say, “I might be too deep in with my job.”
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Storytime …
Jonah tried to sympathize with his friend’s predicament.
–That is a touch choice. I mean, do you choose the job you want and love, or do you stick around at that boring financial department? Sounds like you’re in the deep end.
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Deep end
Being in the deep end has a very similar meaning to “in deep.” The idea is still of being under pressure, underwater, or on your toes. It’s a difficult situation to get out of, a hard place to leave from. In other words, “You’re stuck.”
Sounds like you’re in the deep end.
- It sounds like you’re in a difficult place, have a really tough decision, have nowhere to run to.
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Storytime …
–Are you all okay? asked Amy. She looked up from the dark with a bright smile on her face.
The two men gave her one thumbs-up each. Before they knew it they had reached the cave floor. Charles opened his mouth to say another deep thought when he was interrupted by a swarm of bats. They screeched and squealed over the three humans, trying to find a place to hide.
Jonah screamed out, –Oh, crap! These are the bats that had the Corona. Fight! Run!
Jonah and Charles started swatting at the little creatures while Amy sat patiently. Jonah didn’t like that.
–What the heck are you doing, Amy? You need to come and help us kill these Covid-19 bats. They just flew in about 50-deep and there’s only three of us here. We need to band together.
.
Deep
So, this use of deep is a little less common than the others. Saying this refers to an amount of people, normally said with a number and then the object. It is supposed to refer to people anyway, but as you can see, Jonah uses it in a joking way to refer to bats. It’s also mostly used to say that “X” amount of people/creatures arrived at a place. Using “deep” in this way is probably more regional and I’m not sure if it’s common outside of my region or country. Still, you may hear it at some point.
They just flew in about 50-deep and there’s only three of us here
- They flew in with fifty individuals, fifty of them arrived together.
The Ending …
Charles had the same thought as Jonah.
–Yeah, Amy. Why aren’t you doing anything?
Their instructor only turned her head. As the cloud of bats began to clear, she pointed a light at the back of the cave and splayed her luminous smile.
–Look over there!
The two friends immediately turned their heads and found what they had been “spelunking” all this time for. There were several huge columns of stalagmites and crystals shining from the top to the rocky bottom. The friends were utterly shocked, and Charles felt moved to say something.
–Mother Earth must love us humans to offer us such a beautiful sight.
Amy smiled and looked over at Jonah.
–Wow, you’re friend is so deep!
**Read more Adventures of Charles and learn other English expressions and slang. Contact me for a personal message or to collaborate at tietewaller@gmail.com. Follow to get emailed every time a new article is posted. Thanks for reading and take care of yourselves! Peace.
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