cram

Everyday

1. To cram is to push too many things or people into a small space. tree →
2. To cram is to study a lot in a short time just before a test. tree →
3. To cram food is to eat it very fast, stuffing your mouth. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life it describes full bags, cupboards and buses. In school it describes last-minute studying, which works worse than revising a little every day. Phrases: «cram into», «cram for a test», «crammed with», «crammed full».

Examples

• He crammed all his clothes into one small bag. tree →
• Twenty people crammed into the tiny lift. tree →
• Don't cram for the test the night before; revise a bit each day. tree →
• The cupboard was crammed with old toys. tree →
• She crammed the whole sandwich into her mouth. tree →
• We crammed into the car for the trip. tree →
• The shelves were crammed full of books. tree →
• Hansel bent down and filled his pocket with as many of them as he could cram in. tree →

Note

Double «m»: crammed, cramming. Past and adjective «crammed» means very full. Safety: cramming food into your mouth can make you choke. In a maths problem, «crammed into» tells that the space is overfull — more than fits comfortably.