Being busy is a common part of life. It means having a lot to do, whether it’s schoolwork, chores, or fun activities. People often use idioms to express how busy they feel. These idioms help to paint a picture of just how hectic someone’s day can be. Sometimes, these sayings can even add a bit of humor to a stressful situation.
In this article, we’ll look at 30 idioms that describe being busy. Learning these idioms will not only help you understand others better but also make your conversations more fun and colorful. These expressions can be used in everyday situations, like when you’re swamped with homework or running around trying to finish multiple tasks. Let’s dive in!
Idioms for Busy
1. Burning the candle at both ends
Meaning: Working hard and staying busy, often without enough rest.
Samples: She’s been burning the candle at both ends trying to finish her project before the deadline. / After the long practice, he was burning the candle at both ends to prepare for the exam.
To Put it Another Way: She’s staying up late and waking up early to get everything done. / He’s pushing himself to work long hours.
2. Spinning your wheels
Meaning: Trying hard but not making any real progress.
Samples: I’ve been spinning my wheels all day and haven’t finished my homework. / He felt like he was spinning his wheels trying to fix the old car.
To Put it Another Way: I keep working, but I’m not getting anywhere. / He’s been stuck and can’t seem to move forward.
3. Running around like a chicken with its head cut off
Meaning: Being very busy and disorganized.
Samples: I’ve been running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get everything ready for the party. / He was running around like a chicken with its head cut off during the school event.
To Put it Another Way: I’m rushing and confused, trying to do everything at once. / He’s all over the place trying to finish his tasks.
4. In a rat race
Meaning: Competing with others in a stressful, busy situation.
Samples: School feels like a rat race with all the tests and assignments. / She’s stuck in a rat race trying to get ahead at work.
To Put it Another Way: It feels like I’m constantly trying to beat others. / Everyone is working hard to succeed, and it’s stressful.
5. Juggling too many balls
Meaning: Trying to manage too many things at once.
Samples: She’s juggling too many balls, with school, sports, and a part-time job. / He was juggling too many balls and forgot to submit his project.
To Put it Another Way: She’s handling too many tasks at the same time. / He’s doing so much that it’s hard to keep track.
6. Up to your ears in work
Meaning: Being very busy and having a lot to do.
Samples: I’m up to my ears in work and won’t be able to come to the game. / She’s up to her ears in homework and can’t hang out right now.
To Put it Another Way: I have so much work to do that I can barely keep up. / She’s overwhelmed by the amount of work.
7. On the go
Meaning: Constantly busy and always moving.
Samples: He’s always on the go with practice, homework, and meetings. / My mom is always on the go, taking care of everything.
To Put it Another Way: He’s always busy and moving from one thing to the next. / She doesn’t stop working all day.
8. Like a one-armed paper hanger
Meaning: Being very busy, especially with difficult tasks.
Samples: She’s been working like a one-armed paper hanger trying to organize the party. / He had so many things to do that he was like a one-armed paper hanger.
To Put it Another Way: She’s busy with a lot of hard work. / He’s doing everything himself and barely keeping up.
9. All over the place
Meaning: Being busy and disorganized, going in different directions.
Samples: He’s been all over the place with school, practice, and helping at home. / I feel all over the place trying to juggle everything.
To Put it Another Way: She’s busy doing so many things at once. / I’m moving from one task to the next without a clear plan.
10. A busy bee
Meaning: Someone who is always busy working or doing something.
Samples: She’s such a busy bee, always cleaning or helping around the house. / He’s a busy bee, running errands all day long.
To Put it Another Way: She’s always working and never seems to stop. / He’s always doing something and can’t sit still.
11. Running on empty
Meaning: Being extremely tired or exhausted from being busy.
Samples: After studying all night, I was running on empty the next day. / He’s been working non-stop and is running on empty.
To Put it Another Way: I don’t have any energy left because I’ve been so busy. / He’s worn out from working too much.
12. Chasing your tail
Meaning: Being busy but not getting anything done.
Samples: I’ve been chasing my tail all day, but I still haven’t finished my homework. / She was chasing her tail trying to get everything ready for the party.
To Put it Another Way: I’ve been running in circles but not making progress. / She keeps doing things but isn’t moving forward.
13. Burning the midnight oil
Meaning: Staying up late to finish something, usually work or study.
Samples: She’s been burning the midnight oil trying to finish her project before the deadline. / I was burning the midnight oil last night studying for the test.
To Put it Another Way: I stayed up late working on my assignment. / He’s working into the night to get everything done.
14. Making a mountain out of a molehill
Meaning: Making a small problem seem much bigger than it is, usually when feeling overwhelmed.
Samples: He’s making a mountain out of a molehill by worrying so much about the presentation. / She tends to make a mountain out of a molehill when she’s busy.
To Put it Another Way: She’s exaggerating the problem because she’s stressed. / He’s turning a small issue into something huge.
15. Caught in a whirlwind
Meaning: Being overwhelmed with many tasks or events happening quickly.
Samples: The week before finals was a whirlwind, with no time to relax. / She felt caught in a whirlwind with all the projects and tests.
To Put it Another Way: Everything happened so fast, and I couldn’t keep up. / It was a busy time with too much going on at once.
16. Knee-deep in
Meaning: Being involved in something deeply, often a lot of work.
Samples: He’s knee-deep in studying for his exams. / I’m knee-deep in organizing the class project.
To Put it Another Way: He’s very busy working on something. / I’m stuck in the middle of a big task.
17. In the thick of it
Meaning: Being deeply involved in a busy or difficult situation.
Samples: She’s in the thick of it with her final exams. / He’s in the thick of it, trying to finish all his work on time.
To Put it Another Way: She’s very busy and dealing with a lot of tasks. / He’s right in the middle of all the chaos.
18. Up to your eyeballs
Meaning: Being overwhelmed with work or responsibilities.
Samples: I’m up to my eyeballs in homework and can’t do anything else. / He’s up to his eyeballs in work and can’t take a break.
To Put it Another Way: I have so much to do that I can barely manage. / He’s swamped with tasks and can’t get ahead.
19. Running on a tight schedule
Meaning: Having very little time and having to manage time carefully.
Samples: With all my homework, I’m running on a tight schedule tonight. / She’s running on a tight schedule, trying to fit everything in before the deadline.
To Put it Another Way: I have to manage my time very carefully today. / She’s rushing to get everything done on time.
20. Be up to your neck
Meaning: To be very busy with something, often too busy.
Samples: He’s up to his neck in work and won’t be able to join us for dinner. / I’m up to my neck in homework this weekend.
To Put it Another Way: He’s drowning in tasks and can’t do anything else. / I have so much work to do that I’m overwhelmed.
21. Swamped with work
Meaning: Having so much work that it’s hard to handle.
Samples: She’s swamped with work and has no time for anything else. / I’m swamped with assignments and can’t relax.
To Put it Another Way: I’m buried in work and can’t catch up. / He has a mountain of tasks to finish.
22. Tied up with something
Meaning: Being busy doing something that prevents you from doing other things.
Samples: I’m tied up with homework right now and can’t hang out. / He’s tied up with a meeting all afternoon.
To Put it Another Way: I’m busy with something and can’t do anything else. / He’s occupied with a task and can’t leave.
23. Caught between a rock and a hard place
Meaning: Being stuck in a difficult situation with no easy way out.
Samples: I’m caught between a rock and a hard place trying to meet the deadline for both projects. / She felt caught between a rock and a hard place with so many responsibilities.
To Put it Another Way: I’m in a tough spot with no easy solution. / He’s stuck with two hard choices.
24. Running out of steam
Meaning: Becoming tired or losing energy after being very busy.
Samples: After a whole day of studying, I’m starting to run out of steam. / She was running out of steam after working non-stop all week.
To Put it Another Way: I’m feeling tired after doing so much. / She’s exhausted and can’t keep up anymore.
25. Have a full plate
Meaning: Having many tasks or responsibilities to handle.
Samples: I’ve got a full plate with school, sports, and chores this week. / She has a full plate with all the meetings and deadlines.
To Put it Another Way: I have too much to do right now. / He’s got many things to take care of today.
26. On the clock
Meaning: Being busy and working within a set time limit.
Samples: She’s on the clock to finish her project by 5 PM. / He’s on the clock and needs to finish his work before the deadline.
To Put it Another Way: She’s working against the clock to get things done. / He’s racing to finish everything on time.
27. Under pressure
Meaning: Being busy and feeling the stress to get something done.
Samples: She was under pressure to finish her report on time. / He’s under pressure with all the tasks piling up.
To Put it Another Way: She feels stressed because of the workload. / He has to work quickly to meet the deadline.
28. All hands on deck
Meaning: Needing everyone’s help because there is so much to do.
Samples: We need all hands on deck to finish cleaning the school before the event. / It’s all hands on deck to get everything ready for the show.
To Put it Another Way: Everyone has to pitch in to get everything done. / We need everyone’s help to complete the task.
29. Like a hamster on a wheel
Meaning: Doing something repeatedly without getting anywhere.
Samples: I feel like a hamster on a wheel with all this endless homework. / She’s like a hamster on a wheel, running from task to task.
To Put it Another Way: It feels like I’m stuck doing the same thing over and over. / She’s busy, but nothing seems to change.
30. Hectic schedule
Meaning: A schedule that is very busy and full of things to do.
Samples: He has a hectic schedule with meetings all week long. / My weekend is going to be a hectic schedule with soccer practice and homework.
To Put it Another Way: He’s got so many things to do that it’s hard to keep track. / My day is packed with activities and events.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Busy
Find the Idioms for “Busy”
Reading Passage:
It was the week before the school play, and Mia was feeling the pressure. She was juggling too many balls with practice, rehearsals, and homework. Every day, she was running around like a chicken with its head cut off, trying to get everything done. Her friend Sarah noticed how tired Mia was and asked, “Are you burning the candle at both ends again?” Mia nodded, explaining, “I’m just up to my ears in work and it feels like I’m chasing my tail with all these tasks!”
Later that evening, Mia’s mom called. “You need a break,” she said, “but you’re always on the go.” Mia laughed, saying, “I don’t have time to stop! I’m in the thick of it right now.” After a long day of work, Mia was finally caught between a rock and a hard place: she had to finish her homework and still attend the final rehearsal for the play. Feeling exhausted, she said, “I’m running on empty, but I’ll get it done.”
Your Task:
Can you find all the idioms for being busy in the passage above? List or underline them.
Answer Key
- Juggling too many balls
- Running around like a chicken with its head cut off
- Burning the candle at both ends
- Up to your ears in work
- Chasing your tail
- On the go
- In the thick of it
- Caught between a rock and a hard place
Conclusion
Being busy is something we all experience from time to time. Whether it’s school, sports, or other activities, there are moments when we feel overwhelmed by the number of tasks we have. Idioms for being busy help us express how hectic life can be. These expressions bring a sense of fun and creativity to everyday situations, helping us talk about our challenges in a more interesting way.
By learning these idioms, you can understand when others are feeling stressed or overwhelmed. They also make it easier to explain your own busy days to friends and family. So, the next time you’re juggling a lot of tasks or running on empty, you can use one of these idioms to describe your busy life!
