like sardines

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"If Ebola comes, we'll be wiped out as we're packed like sardines," Dorcas Mapenzi said at the Kingonze camp on the outskirts of Bunia, the provincial capital.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

At night, bedbugs nibbled at the 312 people laying like sardines on the floor of Namazi’s section of Ward 4.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

He split the place with Jac Collinsworth, his close high school friend, the two of them packed like sardines into a single room that doubled as the kitchen and dining space.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2025

"They get huge volumes of cod liver oil, lard, salmon oil and get oily fish like sardines, mackerel and salmon."

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2025

Our whole family sleeps together lined up like sardines under a big mosquito net in the house.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung