Thrown in at the Deep End

🗓️ Idiom: Thrown in at the Deep End (v)

💬 Meaning

Given a difficult task or situation without preparation or training
Forced to start something challenging with little support

🧠 Example Sentences

When I joined the startup, I was thrown in at the deep end with no training.
New employees are often thrown in at the deep end during a product launch.
She was thrown in at the deep end, managing the compliance audit in her first week.

🏛️ Origin

This idiom comes from swimming. Being “thrown in at the deep end” refers to putting someone into the deep part of a swimming pool before they know how to swim. Over time, it came to describe any situation where a person starts something difficult without help or preparation.

📝 Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blank:
On his first day at the startup, Tom was __________ when he had to lead the investor meeting.

Answer

thrown in at the deep end

2. Multiple choice:
What does “thrown in at the deep end” mean?
a) Given full training before a job
b) Asked to take a break from work
c) Put into a hard situation without support

Answer

c) Put into a hard situation without support

3. Change the sentence using “thrown in at the deep end”:
“They asked me to manage the compliance report even though I had never done it before.”

Answer

I was thrown in at the deep end when they asked me to manage the compliance report.

ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

🗓️ Idiom: Thrown in at the Deep End (v)

💬 Meaning

🧠 Example Sentences

🏛️ Origin

📝 Practice Exercises

ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

📚 Learning Resources

👥 Support Spaces

⭐️ Extras

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