Pronunciation: [wɒz ˌʌp tʊ ˈi͡əz ˈɪn] (IPA) 
The phrase "was up to ears in" means being overwhelmed or deeply involved in something. It is spelled as /wʌz ʌp tə ɪrz ɪn/ in IPA phonetic transcription. Each sound in the phrase can be pronounced as "wuhz" for "was," "uhp" for "up," "tuh" for "to," "ih" for "ears," and "ihnz" in "in." The use of this phrase can be traced back to the mid-19th century, and it remains a common expression in today's English language.
The phrase "was up to ears in" is an idiomatic expression that typically means being excessively or heavily involved in something to the point of being overwhelmed or fully occupied. It implies that an individual is engrossed or deeply immersed in a particular activity, situation, or responsibility, leaving little room for any other commitments or obligations.
When someone is "up to their ears in" a given task or responsibility, it suggests that they are fully engaged and consumed by it, often to the point where it becomes challenging to handle or manage anything else simultaneously. This phrase is often used to emphasize a high level of involvement or overwhelming workload, highlighting the individual's inability to do much else due to their current obligations.
For instance, if someone says, "I can't go out tonight; I'm up to my ears in paperwork," it means that their workload or duties are so extensive that they do not have sufficient time or energy for social events or extra activities. It implies a state of being completely occupied or overwhelmed by the current situation.
In summary, "was up to ears in" describes a situation where a person is completely swamped or overwhelmed by a particular task or responsibility, indicating a state of being fully engaged and occupied to the point where they cannot take on any additional commitments.
