下面我們要講的一個習慣用語也是和耳朵，也就是ear有關的。它是
下面我們要講的一個習慣用語也是和耳朵，也就是ear有關的。它是 up to one's ears。 Up to one's ears有好幾個意思。首先，它可以解釋成“很忙”的意思。比如說：
1) : "Half the people in my office are home sick, so I'm up to my ears!"
這個人說：“我辦公室里有一半的人有病請假，所以我簡直忙得不得了?！?
下面這個例子是一個丈夫為了逃避到廚房去幫他太太的忙正在找借口：
2) :"Gee, honey, you know I'd like to help you paint the kitchen tonight, but I'm up to my ears in paper work I had to bring home from the office. "
這個丈夫說：“親愛的，你知道我很愿意今晚幫你把廚房上油漆。可是我從辦公室帶回來好些要做的事?！?
Up to one's ears這個習慣用語在下面這句句子里的意思就不同了：
3) :"The mayor says he didn't know people on his staff were taking bribes. But my guess is he's up to his ears in it."
這句話的意思是：“市長說他不知道他手下的工作人員接受賄賂?？墒牵也孪胨耆墙槿脒@些事的?！?BR>
我們講了兩個習慣用語，第一個是 to keep an ear to the ground，意思是保持高度警覺。另一個是 up to one's ears，這是指很忙，或者是完全介入某件事的意思。