Many languages have idiomatic expression to denote a an very crowded place full of people (or not necessary people) like "jammed packed" or "packed to the rafters" or "No cabía ni un alma" in Spanish. are there any equivalent expression in Latin? If no expression is found, how would you suggest saying this?
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3This is a non-answer, since these aren't idiomatic expressions, but a quick search in the Dictionary of Latin Phrases only revealed uses of refertus, complētus and frequentissimus in the spatial sense of fullFivesideddice– Fivesideddice2025-11-01 07:15:53 +00:00Commented Nov 1 at 7:15
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1Georges offers ad margines plenus, but as far as I can see, the classical attestation is limited to a single occurrence in Pliny (NH 2, 226), and he's talking about a lake that is, well, full to the brim.Sebastian Koppehel– Sebastian Koppehel2025-11-07 22:03:19 +00:00Commented Nov 7 at 22:03
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1 Answer
One possible word is farcio, to cram together, to stuff, or confercio, to tightly pack together, or refercio, to cram to the bursting point. For example:
Farto toto theatro, ingens stipatio, occipiunt inter se queri ("With the whole theater crammed, a huge throng began to complain among themselves.") Apuleis, Florida 13
To capture the idea of packed to the rafters you could use condensor. For example:
Mox usque ad summum labrum vinacea condensantur ("Right after this, pack the grape skins all the way to the top of the brim.") Columella, On Agriculture 12.3
