He was trying to 'drown his fears'. [=to get drunk so that he wouldn't be afraid]
I'm being 'drowned in' paperwork. [=I'm being overwhelmed by paperwork]
Noise from the passing airplane 'drowned out' our conversation.
(..) What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, that he should weep for her? What would he do had he the motive and cue for passion that I have? He would drown the stage with tears and cleave the general ear with horrid speech Make mad the guilty and appal the free Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed (..)2015 Hamlet