in the weeds

Definitions

1. Immersed or entangled in details or complexities.
   figuratively, informal
2. Overwhelmed with diners' orders.
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, the, weeds.

Examples

“to get⟳ lost in the weeds”

“It was in a series of such back-and-forth sessions that Rumsfeld crafted the war on Iraq. […] [G]enerals were alarmed to see⟳ a Defense Secretary get⟳ so far down in the weeds of a military operation.”

“Mr. Obama devoted so much time to the Afghan issue⟳ — nearly 11 hours on the day after Thanksgiving alone — that he joked, “I’ve got more deeply in the weeds than a president should, and now you guys need⟳ to solve⟳ this.””

“In order⟳ to ban prop trading, you first have⟳ to define⟳ it, and when you try⟳, you are immediately in the weeds.”

“For readers who may be concerned about getting lost in the weeds, don’t worry⟳. The authors do an excellent job hitting high points in an intelligible manner so that readers don’t need⟳ a PhD in climate science to see⟳ the patterns.”

“[…] many today will recognise⟳ in it the tendency of the left to prioritise ideological purity over concrete action, get⟳ lost in the weeds of theory and language, and ultimately turn⟳ on itself.”

“Anger may be the only recourse when you're "in the weeds," as chefs call⟳ the nightmare of not being ready when orders pour⟳ in and you fall⟳ behind and can't see⟳ a way out.”

“She saw⟳ that she was in the weeds on every front. There were unanswered phone messages from a food writer at the Times, from an editor at Gourmet, and from the latest restaurateur hoping to steal⟳ Brian’s chef.”

“She took on way too much work⟳ in the kitchen and didn't know⟳ when to say⟳ when. […] Like⟳ one of the judges said, "No matter⟳ how great a chef you are, once you get⟳ in the weeds, it's over."”

“Sometimes, while she rooted around in the weeds to place⟳ her camera, the meadow resisted—thorns scratched her arm and insects bit her fingers.”

CEFR level