by the thousands

In huge quantities, presumably numbering several thousand. When the potato famine hit Ireland, the Irish began emigrating—especially to America—by the thousands.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Keighley	-	English (Rare)
Kateri	-	History
Elisheba	i-LISH-ə-bə (English), ee-LISH-ə-bə (English)	Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
UxÍO	oo-SHEE-aw	Galician
Proctor	['prɔktə]
Takumi	tah-koo-mee	Japanese