35 Idioms for Busy

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Being busy is something we all understand. It happens when we have too many things to do and not enough time. People often use special phrases, called idioms, to talk about how busy they are. These idioms make it easier to describe their full schedule in a fun and creative way.

In this article, we will look at idioms people use when they’re busy. These sayings can be helpful and even make people smile. They are also a good way to understand how others feel when they are doing a lot. Let’s explore them together.

Idioms for Busy

1. Busy as a bee

Meaning: Very busy and working hard
Example Sentence:
• Mom was busy as a bee getting ready for the party.
• The students were busy as bees finishing their projects.
Other ways to say: Very active, working hard
Fun Fact/Origin: Bees work all day collecting nectar.
Usage: Used when someone is working nonstop.

2. Swamped with work

Meaning: Having too much to do
Example Sentence:
• I’m swamped with homework this week.
• Dad was swamped with emails after his vacation.
Other ways to say: Overloaded, drowning in work
Fun Fact/Origin: “Swamped” means flooded, like a swamp.
Usage: When someone has more work than they can handle.

3. Snowed under

Meaning: Very busy and behind on work
Example Sentence:
• She’s snowed under with assignments.
• He got snowed under after missing two days of school.
Other ways to say: Overwhelmed, overloaded
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of being buried in snow.
Usage: Used when work keeps piling up.

4. Tied up

Meaning: Not available because you are busy
Example Sentence:
• Sorry, I’m tied up with a meeting.
• Mom is tied up cooking dinner right now.
Other ways to say: Busy, unavailable
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests being stuck or held up
Usage: Used when someone can’t do something because they are busy.

5. Up to your ears

Meaning: Extremely busy
Example Sentence:
• I’m up to my ears in homework.
• She’s up to her ears in chores today.
Other ways to say: Full schedule, too much to do
Fun Fact/Origin: It paints a picture of being buried up to your ears.
Usage: Used when someone has more tasks than they can manage.

I’ll continue with the next 30 in the same format.

6. In a rush

Meaning: Hurrying because there’s not enough time
Example Sentence:
• He left in a rush to catch the bus.
• I was in a rush and forgot my lunch.
Other ways to say: In a hurry, pressed for time
Fun Fact/Origin: “Rush” means to move quickly.
Usage: Used when someone is doing something fast.

7. On the go

Meaning: Always moving or doing something
Example Sentence:
• She’s always on the go with work and kids.
• I’ve been on the go since morning.
Other ways to say: Always busy, active
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom shows someone who never stops.
Usage: Used for someone with a full, nonstop schedule.

8. Burning the candle at both ends

Meaning: Working from early to late without rest
Example Sentence:
• He’s burning the candle at both ends with school and a job.
• Mom’s burning the candle at both ends planning the party.
Other ways to say: Overworking, doing too much
Fun Fact/Origin: If you burn a candle at both ends, it won’t last long.
Usage: Used when someone is doing too much with little rest.

9. No time to breathe

Meaning: Extremely busy
Example Sentence:
• I had no time to breathe between classes.
• She had no time to breathe all day.
Other ways to say: Very busy, nonstop work
Fun Fact/Origin: Exaggerates how fast-paced things are
Usage: Used when someone is constantly busy.

10. Jumping from one thing to another

Meaning: Doing many things one after the other
Example Sentence:
• He kept jumping from one thing to another all afternoon.
• I’m jumping from one subject to the next to study.
Other ways to say: Switching tasks, doing a lot
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows someone not staying on one task
Usage: Used when a person is multitasking.

11. Run off your feet

Meaning: So busy that you’re very tired
Example Sentence:
• She ran off her feet helping at the event.
• Dad’s been running off his feet all day.
Other ways to say: Exhausted from being busy, worn out
Fun Fact/Origin: Imagine running until your feet hurt!
Usage: Used when someone is doing too much.

12. Have a full plate

Meaning: Have many things to do
Example Sentence:
• I can’t help today—I have a full plate.
• She has a full plate with homework and sports.
Other ways to say: Too busy, lots going on
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of a plate piled with food.
Usage: Used when someone has a packed schedule.

13. Time crunch

Meaning: Not having enough time
Example Sentence:
• We’re in a time crunch to finish the project.
• He felt the time crunch before the test.
Other ways to say: Rushed, running out of time
Fun Fact/Origin: “Crunch” means pressure or squeeze
Usage: Used when time is short.

14. Like a chicken with its head cut off

Meaning: Moving around wildly and in a rush
Example Sentence:
• He was running around like a chicken with its head cut off before school.
• She cleaned the house like a chicken with its head cut off.
Other ways to say: In a frenzy, all over the place
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how chickens act after losing their head.
Usage: Used when someone is rushing in a panic.

15. Juggling too many things

Meaning: Doing many things at once
Example Sentence:
• She’s juggling too many things this week.
• I feel like I’m juggling school, soccer, and chores.
Other ways to say: Multitasking, overwhelmed
Fun Fact/Origin: Juggling means tossing several items in the air.
Usage: Used when someone has many tasks at once.

16. Back-to-back meetings

Meaning: One meeting right after another
Example Sentence:
• He had back-to-back meetings all day.
• I’m tired from back-to-back classes.
Other ways to say: Continuous, no break
Fun Fact/Origin: From sports where games happen one after another
Usage: Used when there’s no pause between events.

17. In over your head

Meaning: Too busy or overwhelmed to handle it
Example Sentence:
• I’m in over my head with this project.
• She felt in over her head after joining too many clubs.
Other ways to say: Overloaded, overwhelmed
Fun Fact/Origin: Like being in water that’s too deep to stand
Usage: Used when someone can’t manage it all.

18. Chained to your desk

Meaning: Very busy with work
Example Sentence:
• He was chained to his desk all morning.
• I’ve been chained to my desk since lunch.
Other ways to say: Stuck working, tied to work
Fun Fact/Origin: Means not being able to leave your workspace
Usage: Used when someone is stuck working for a long time.

19. Spinning your wheels

Meaning: Doing a lot without making progress
Example Sentence:
• I’m spinning my wheels trying to finish this puzzle.
• She was spinning her wheels all day with that assignment.
Other ways to say: Getting nowhere, stuck
Fun Fact/Origin: Like a car spinning in mud without moving
Usage: Used when someone is busy but not productive.

20. Running around

Meaning: Being very busy and going place to place
Example Sentence:
• He spent the day running around doing errands.
• She’s always running around after school.
Other ways to say: Rushing, constantly moving
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows how someone moves from task to task
Usage: Used when someone is active and busy.

21. In a jam

Meaning: In a busy or difficult situation
Example Sentence:
• I’m in a jam with two tests tomorrow.
• She got in a jam when she forgot her homework.
Other ways to say: In trouble, tight spot
Fun Fact/Origin: Like traffic that’s stuck
Usage: Used when someone is stuck or too busy.

22. Hectic schedule

Meaning: Very busy plan with little free time
Example Sentence:
• My week is full of a hectic schedule.
• Her day was hectic with classes and practice.
Other ways to say: Packed schedule, tight calendar
Fun Fact/Origin: “Hectic” means full of action or stress
Usage: Used when life is full of plans and movement.

23. Pressed for time

Meaning: Not having enough time
Example Sentence:
• We’re pressed for time, so let’s go!
• I was pressed for time and skipped breakfast.
Other ways to say: Rushed, short on time
Fun Fact/Origin: “Pressed” means squeezed, like time is tight
Usage: Used when you need to hurry.

24. Too much on your plate

Meaning: Having too many things to do
Example Sentence:
• He has too much on his plate this week.
• I can’t help—I’ve got too much on my plate.
Other ways to say: Overloaded, overwhelmed
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from a plate being full of food
Usage: Used when someone can’t take on more.

25. Flat out

Meaning: Extremely busy
Example Sentence:
• I’ve been flat out all day with school and chores.
• She’s working flat out before the deadline.
Other ways to say: At full speed, nonstop
Fun Fact/Origin: “Flat out” means using all your effort
Usage: Used when someone is working very hard.

26. Got your hands full

Meaning: Very busy handling things
Example Sentence:
• Mom’s got her hands full with the baby.
• I’ve got my hands full with this science project.
Other ways to say: Busy, occupied
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from not having free hands
Usage: Used when someone can’t take on more.

27. Clock is ticking

Meaning: Time is running out
Example Sentence:
• Finish your test—the clock is ticking!
• The clock’s ticking before practice starts.
Other ways to say: Hurry up, time’s almost gone
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from a ticking clock sound
Usage: Used when you’re running out of time.

28. Against the clock

Meaning: Rushing to finish before time runs out
Example Sentence:
• We were working against the clock to turn it in.
• She studied against the clock for the quiz.
Other ways to say: In a hurry, deadline pressure
Fun Fact/Origin: Like racing a ticking clock
Usage: Used when you need to beat a deadline.

29. Racing the clock

Meaning: Trying to finish something fast
Example Sentence:
• I was racing the clock to finish my chores.
• They were racing the clock to get to school.
Other ways to say: In a rush, beating the clock
Fun Fact/Origin: Like a race against time
Usage: Used when time is short.

30. Working around the clock

Meaning: Working all day and night
Example Sentence:
• Doctors were working around the clock.
• I studied around the clock for finals.
Other ways to say: Nonstop, day and night
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to the full 24 hours of the day
Usage: Used when someone works without a break.

31. Hustling

Meaning: Moving quickly to get things done
Example Sentence:
• He’s been hustling to finish his book report.
• We had to hustle to catch the bus.
Other ways to say: Rushing, hurrying
Fun Fact/Origin: “Hustle” means fast and busy movement
Usage: Used when someone moves fast to finish tasks.

32. Booked solid

Meaning: Having no free time
Example Sentence:
• My schedule is booked solid all week.
• She’s booked solid with dance classes.
Other ways to say: Completely busy, no openings
Fun Fact/Origin: “Booked” means your time is already filled
Usage: Used when your calendar is full.

33. Crunch time

Meaning: The last busy period before a deadline
Example Sentence:
• It’s crunch time before the project is due.
• We’re in crunch time before the test.
Other ways to say: Final stretch, last minute
Fun Fact/Origin: Crunch means pressure
Usage: Used when there’s a short time left to finish.

34. Day packed

Meaning: A very full and busy day
Example Sentence:
• My day is packed with classes and activities.
• She had a packed day of chores and fun.
Other ways to say: Busy day, full schedule
Fun Fact/Origin: Like a suitcase filled to the top
Usage: Used to show a tight schedule.

35. Too busy to blink

Meaning: Very, very busy
Example Sentence:
• I was too busy to blink during the trip.
• He’s been too busy to blink all week.
Other ways to say: Super busy, nonstop
Fun Fact/Origin: Exaggerates how nonstop things are
Usage: Used to describe an extremely packed time.

Quiz: Idioms for Busy

Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.

Question Key

1. What does “busy as a bee” mean?

A) Resting peacefully
B) Very busy and active
C) Playing outside

2. If someone is “swamped with work,” what are they doing?

A) They are swimming
B) They are overwhelmed with tasks
C) They are relaxing

3. What does “in a rush” mean?

A) Walking slowly
B) Taking your time
C) Hurrying

4. If you are “burning the candle at both ends,” what are you doing?

A) Sleeping a lot
B) Doing too much without rest
C) Lighting candles

5. What does “chained to your desk” suggest?

A) You are stuck doing work
B) You are walking outside
C) You are building a desk

6. What does “too much on your plate” mean?

A) You have too much food
B) You are juggling many jobs
C) You are not eating

7. What does “the clock is ticking” mean?

A) You have lots of time
B) Time is running out
C) There is no clock nearby

8. What happens when someone is “juggling too many things”?

A) They are playing with balls
B) They are doing many tasks at once
C) They are skipping work

9. What does it mean if someone is “in over their head”?

A) They are swimming well
B) They are too busy and overwhelmed
C) They are relaxing at home

10. If your schedule is “booked solid,” what does that mean?

A) You have nothing to do
B) You are free all day
C) You have no free time

Answer Key

  1. B) Very busy and active
  2. B) They are overwhelmed with tasks
  3. C) Hurrying
  4. B) Doing too much without rest
  5. A) You are stuck doing work
  6. B) You are juggling many jobs
  7. B) Time is running out
  8. B) They are doing many tasks at once
  9. B) They are too busy and overwhelmed
  10. C) You have no free time

Wrapping Up

There are many ways to describe being busy. Idioms make it easier to show how full our day can be. They also help us share how we feel when we have a lot to do. Learning these idioms can be helpful for school, work, or daily life.

Next time you’re feeling rushed, you might say you’re “swamped” or “up to your ears.” These phrases make talking about a busy life more fun and clear.

👉 Want to understand what idioms really are? Visit our complete guide to idioms. Or see all idiom articles.
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Ben Donovan

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