23 Busy Idioms: A Look at Busy Idioms and Their Meanings • 7ESL

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Have you ever found yourself as busy as a bee and wondered how to express that whirlwind of activity in a fun and quirky way? Our article, “Busy Idioms,” is like a treasure chest, overflowing with playful phrases that will add some pizzazz to your daily chatter.

Whether you’re running around like a chicken with its head cut off or you’re simply knee-deep in work, there’s an idiom for every hectic moment. So, take a tiny break from your bustling schedule, grab a cozy seat, and let’s dive into the whimsical world of “Busy Idioms.

What Are Busy Idioms?

In our language, idioms serve as an expressive way to convey thoughts and feelings figuratively. When we discuss busy idioms, we’re referring to those specific phrases that describe being extremely active or occupied. We use these idioms to add color to our conversations, especially when we want to express that we’re engulfed in work or personal commitments in a more vivid and often more relatable way. Let’s look at some characteristics of busy idioms:

Here’s a brief breakdown of commonly recognized busy idioms and what they mean:

Idiom	Meaning
As busy as a beaver	Engaged in hard work, continuously active
Up to one’s ears	So busy that one is overwhelmed
Burn the candle at both ends	Working late and starting early, often at the expense of rest
Swamped	Overwhelmed with a large amount of work or tasks

Busy Idioms with Meaning and Example Sentences

Idioms	Meanings with Example Sentences
As busy as a bee	Extremely busy or active. Example: She’s always as busy as a bee, volunteering at the school and attending every community event.
Burning the candle at both ends	Working hard and staying up late to do so. Example: He’s been burning the candle at both ends* trying to finish the project on time.*
Running around like a headless chicken	Acting in a frenzied, chaotic manner. Example: Before the deadline, we were all running around like headless chickens.
In over one’s head	Taking on a task that is too difficult to handle. Example: I realized I was in over my head* when I saw the project requirements.*
Snowed under	Overwhelmed with work. Example: We’re completely snowed under* with orders this holiday season.*
All work and no play	Spending too much time on work and not enough on leisure. Example: It’s all work and no play* for Tom during tax season.*
Chained to the desk	Working long hours at a desk without a break. Example: She’s been chained to the desk* all week with the new product launch.*
Flat out like a lizard drinking	Very busy or working very hard. Example: The team was flat out like a lizard drinking* to meet the deadline.*
Going at full tilt	Working or moving at maximum speed. Example: The factory has been going at full tilt* to fulfill the large order.*
Keeping one’s nose to the grindstone	Working hard and steadily. Example: He’s been keeping his nose to the grindstone* to pay off his student loans.*
Like a chicken with its head cut off	Behaving hysterically or aimlessly. Example: She’s been running around like a chicken with its head cut off* all morning.*
On the go	Very busy; constantly moving or traveling. Example: Our boss is always on the go, from meetings to conferences.
On the hop	Busy and unprepared, often leading to a state of rush. Example: The sudden inspection caught the staff on the hop.
Rushed off one’s feet	Extremely busy, to the point of not being able to cope with the amount of work. Example: The waiters were rushed off their feet* during the dinner rush.*
Slammed	Very busy or overwhelmed with work. Example: The team is slammed* with client requests this week.*

Busy Idioms in Different Contexts

Work and Professional Life

Busy as a bee

Meaning: Extremely busy or active
Example: “She’s been as busy as a bee organizing the company event.”

All hands on deck

Meaning: Everyone must help with a task because there is a lot of work to do.
Example: “We need to get this project finished by Friday, so it’s all hands on deck.”

Swamped

Meaning: Overwhelmed with work to the point of struggling to cope
Example: “I’d love to help with the new project, but I’m swamped with work right now.”

General Busyness

Up to one’s ears

Meaning: Overwhelmed with something, typically work or responsibilities
Example: “I’d love to take a break, but I’m up to my ears in paperwork.”

Have a lot on one’s plate

Meaning: To have a lot of work or responsibilities to handle
Example: “She can’t commit to another project right now; she’s got a lot on her plate.”

Time Management

Time crunch

Meaning: A period when there’s not enough time to do everything that needs to be done
Example: “I’m in a time crunch to finish this project by the deadline.”

Against the clock

Meaning: Working with a limited amount of time to complete something
Example: “We were working against the clock to get the store set up before the grand opening.”

Race against time

Meaning: An attempt to do something as fast as possible, typically because there’s a very limited amount of time available
Example: “The rescue team is in a race against time to find the missing hikers before the storm hits.”

Related Idiom List:

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Jim Manheim

Jim Manheim is a highly skilled writer, editor, and teacher from Michigan, with a wealth of experience and expertise in the English language, including slang and idioms. He is widely recognized as a word geek and a music enthusiast, as well as a grammar and writing expert, with a passion for language that shines through in his work.