all booked up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all booked up" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a place, such as a hotel or restaurant, has no available reservations or space. Example: "I'm sorry, but the restaurant is all booked up for the evening, and we won't be able to accommodate any more guests."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"Was the baby-seal-clubbing junket all booked up?" he wondered.

The Guardian

She knew that this was short notice and probably Ann was all booked up, but they had decided in a hurry.

The New Yorker

With global oil demand surging and prices hitting record levels, the world's 1,500 oil tankers are all booked up, and their owners are charging hefty premiums.

The New York Times

"Vessels that could potentially do the job are all booked up by companies collecting offshore oil," says Trevor Whittaker, an engineer at Queen's University in Belfast who has been part of both the Limpet and Oyster projects.

The Economist

"I'd ask you out, darling, but I bet you are all booked up," a carefully coiffured señora quips to a cross-dressing middle-aged man, as her friends squawk in delight.

The Guardian

Go to work early and it seem conference rooms all booked up and can't find my manager.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

With all the camps booked up, she faced a full summer with her family.

The New York Times

This activity is a mixed blessing to dometstic producers, who are grumbling that foreigners have booked up all the best crews.The world's fashion industry has also woken up to the charms of South Africa.

The Economist

Everyone has been trying to get onto other flights, but all the other flights are booked up now".

The New York Times

But all the useable facilities were booked up, so we decided to have a session at our place, get the train to Doncaster then – as the trains weren't running from there to Hull, do the last bit by coach.

Independent

"All the hotels were booked up for pets, and we have a dog and a mouse, so we decided to stay," she said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all booked up" to casually convey that something is fully reserved or unavailable. It is best suited for informal contexts like conversations or casual writing. For formal communications, consider "fully booked" or "completely reserved".

Common error

Avoid using "all booked up" in formal or professional communication. It can sound too casual. Instead, use more formal alternatives such as "fully booked" or "completely reserved".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all booked up" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun (often implied) to indicate a state of complete reservation or unavailability. Ludwig confirms this common usage, showcasing how the phrase effectively communicates the lack of available slots or openings.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "all booked up" is a common adjective phrase used to indicate complete reservation or unavailability. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, especially in News & Media. While it is generally suitable for neutral to informal contexts, more formal alternatives like "fully booked" or "completely reserved" should be preferred in professional or academic settings. To avoid miscommunication, consider your audience and choose the most appropriate phrase for the given context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fully booked

Replaces "all" with "fully", emphasizing complete occupancy.

completely reserved

Uses "reserved" instead of "booked", highlighting the formal nature of the reservation.

totally reserved

Similar to "completely reserved", but uses "totally" for emphasis.

no availability

Focuses on the lack of available slots or spaces.

sold out

Implies that all tickets or slots have been purchased.

at capacity

Indicates that the maximum capacity has been reached.

unavailable

Simply states that the service or item is not available.

no openings

Highlights the lack of any available time slots or positions.

dates are taken

Refers specifically to the unavailability of certain dates.

nothing left

Suggests that there are no remaining options or resources.

FAQs

How can I use "all booked up" in a sentence?

You can use "all booked up" to indicate that there are no more reservations or available slots. For example: "I'm sorry, the restaurant is "all booked up" for tonight."

What are some alternatives to "all booked up"?

Alternatives include "fully booked", "completely reserved", or "no availability", depending on the specific context.

Is "all booked up" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "all booked up" is more suitable for informal contexts. In formal writing, it's better to use alternatives like "fully booked" or "completely reserved".

What does it mean when something is "all booked up"?

It means that there are no more available slots, reservations, or tickets for a particular event, service, or venue. Everything has been reserved or taken.