bólakaf

Icelandic

Etymology

From the synonymous phrase á bólandi kaf. Kaf is to submerge, and bólandi presumably refers to air bubbles being visible on the surface, as in the figurative phrase að bóla á einhverju (“for something to be noticed”).

Noun

bólakaf n

1. submerged under deep water; to dive deep; to become fully submerged

   Bíllinn er á bólakafi. ― The car is at the bottom of the lake.

   Bíllinn fór á bólakaf. ― The car went fully under water. / The car sunk to the bottom.

2. (figurative) to immerse oneself to the fullest with something; to be very occupied with something; to dive deep into a subject

   Synonym: önnum kafinn

   Hann sökkti sér á bólakaf í lærdóminn. ― He immersed himself with his studies.

   Hann er á bólakafi í vinnu. ― He is buried in work.