“Idioms for busy” perfectly capture the whirlwind of our daily lives. If you often find yourself juggling multiple tasks, you know how challenging it can be to convey that sense of urgency and overwhelm. These colorful expressions can transform your conversations, making them more relatable and engaging.
Imagine being able to articulate your hectic schedule with a phrase that resonates with others! In this article, you’ll define a treasure trove of idioms that express the busyness we all experience. Get ready to enhance your vocabulary and find new ways to connect with those who share your fast-paced lifestyle!
Idioms for Busy
1. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To work late into the night.
In a Sentence: She had to burn the midnight oil to finish her project on time.
Other Ways to Say: Work late, stay up late.
2. Run around like a chicken with its head cut off
Meaning: To be very busy and disorganized.
In a Sentence: He was running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to prepare for the event.
Other Ways to Say: Be in a frenzy, rush around.
3. Keep your nose to the grindstone
Meaning: To focus on hard work without distractions.
In a Sentence: If you want to succeed, you need to keep your nose to the grindstone.
Other Ways to Say: Work hard, stay focused.
4. Have a lot on one’s plate
Meaning: To have many responsibilities or tasks.
In a Sentence: I can’t take on more work; I already have a lot on my plate.
Other Ways to Say: Be overloaded, have too much to do.
5. In the fast lane
Meaning: Living a life that is fast-paced and full of activity.
In a Sentence: She enjoys being in the fast lane, always seeking new adventures.
Other Ways to Say: Live life in the fast lane, be on the go.
6. Chasing one’s tail
Meaning: To be busy doing things but not getting anything done.
In a Sentence: I feel like I’m just chasing my tail with all these meetings.
Other Ways to Say: Spin your wheels, be busy but unproductive.
7. On the go
Meaning: Constantly busy or active.
In a Sentence: He’s always on the go, juggling work and family commitments.
Other Ways to Say: Always busy, constantly active.
8. A full plate
Meaning: Having a lot of tasks to manage.
In a Sentence: With a full plate, she couldn’t take on any extra projects.
Other Ways to Say: Busy schedule, packed agenda.
9. Time is money
Meaning: Time is valuable and should be used wisely.
In a Sentence: Remember, time is money, so don’t waste it on distractions.
Other Ways to Say: Time is precious, value your time.
10. Hit the ground running
Meaning: To start something and proceed at a fast pace.
In a Sentence: After the meeting, we hit the ground running on the new project.
Other Ways to Say: Start off strong, dive right in.
11. A whirlwind of activity
Meaning: A situation filled with fast-paced and chaotic action.
In a Sentence: The event was a whirlwind of activity, leaving everyone exhausted.
Other Ways to Say: Flurry of activity, busy rush.
12. Jump through hoops
Meaning: To go through a lot of effort to achieve something.
In a Sentence: I had to jump through hoops to get my application approved.
Other Ways to Say: Go the extra mile, overcome obstacles.
13. The daily grind
Meaning: The monotonous routine of daily work life.
In a Sentence: After years of the daily grind, she decided to take a sabbatical.
Other Ways to Say: Routine, work cycle.
14. All in a day’s work
Meaning: Typical tasks that are part of one’s job.
In a Sentence: Dealing with upset customers is all in a day’s work for her.
Other Ways to Say: Just another day, part of the job.
15. Go the extra mile
Meaning: To put in more effort than expected.
In a Sentence: He always goes the extra mile to ensure his clients are happy.
Other Ways to Say: Go above and beyond, exceed expectations.
16. Busy as a bee
Meaning: Very busy or active.
In a Sentence: She’s busy as a bee preparing for the big presentation.
Other Ways to Say: Hectic, constantly moving.
17. Tied up
Meaning: Occupied with tasks or commitments.
In a Sentence: I’m tied up with meetings today, so I can’t join you.
Other Ways to Say: Occupied, busy.
18. Make hay while the sun shines
Meaning: To take advantage of favorable conditions.
In a Sentence: We should make hay while the sun shines and finish this project early.
Other Ways to Say: Seize the moment, act while you can.
19. On the clock
Meaning: Being paid for the time worked.
In a Sentence: While you’re on the clock, focus on your tasks.
Other Ways to Say: Being paid, working hours.
20. Time flies
Meaning: Time passes very quickly.
In a Sentence: Time flies when you’re busy with interesting projects.
Other Ways to Say: Time passes quickly, goes by fast.
21. Hustle and bustle
Meaning: The busy, noisy activity of life.
In a Sentence: I love the hustle and bustle of the city, especially during rush hour.
Other Ways to Say: Bustle, commotion.
22. Keep your head above water
Meaning: To manage to survive, especially in difficult circumstances.
In a Sentence: With all this work, I’m just trying to keep my head above water.
Other Ways to Say: Stay afloat, manage.
23. In over one’s head
Meaning: To be involved in a situation that is too difficult to handle.
In a Sentence: I felt in over my head when I took on that project.
Other Ways to Say: Out of depth, overwhelmed.
24. Stretch thin
Meaning: To be overextended or too busy.
In a Sentence: I’m stretched thin with all my commitments this month.
Other Ways to Say: Overworked, spread too thin.
25. Living on borrowed time
Meaning: To be in a precarious situation that may not last much longer.
In a Sentence: With so many deadlines, I feel like I’m living on borrowed time.
Other Ways to Say: On borrowed time, temporary situation.
26. Take the bull by the horns
Meaning: To confront a difficult situation directly.
In a Sentence: She decided to take the bull by the horns and tackle her workload.
Other Ways to Say: Face the challenge, take charge.
27. A race against the clock
Meaning: A situation where one must hurry to finish something on time.
In a Sentence: Completing the report was a race against the clock.
Other Ways to Say: Time crunch, urgent deadline.
28. A juggling act
Meaning: Managing multiple tasks or responsibilities at once.
In a Sentence: Balancing work and family is a constant juggling act.
Other Ways to Say: Multitasking, managing many things.
29. Take it one step at a time
Meaning: To deal with things gradually rather than all at once.
In a Sentence: I’m overwhelmed, so I’ll take it one step at a time.
Other Ways to Say: One thing at a time, gradual approach.
30. Up to one’s ears
Meaning: Deeply involved in a situation, often busy.
In a Sentence: I’m up to my ears in work and can’t take on more.
Other Ways to Say: Deep in, overwhelmed.
31. Caught in a whirlwind
Meaning: Being overwhelmed by a fast-paced situation.
In a Sentence: She felt caught in a whirlwind after taking on too many projects.
Other Ways to Say: Overwhelmed, in chaos.
32. A busy bee
Meaning: Someone who is very active and industrious.
In a Sentence: My mother is a busy bee, always working on something.
Other Ways to Say: Hard worker, industrious person.
33. At breakneck speed
Meaning: Very fast or hurriedly.
In a Sentence: They were working at breakneck speed to meet the deadline.
Other Ways to Say: Very quickly, extremely fast.
34. On a tight schedule
Meaning: Having little time to complete tasks.
In a Sentence: I’m on a tight schedule, so I need to prioritize.
Other Ways to Say: Limited time, urgent timeline.
35. Work like a dog
Meaning: To work extremely hard.
In a Sentence: He worked like a dog to finish the project on time.
Other Ways to Say: Work tirelessly, labor hard.
Quiz
1. What does “burn the midnight oil” mean?
A) To work late into the night
B) To relax with a book
C) To eat dinner late
Answer: A) To work late into the night
2. If someone is “caught in a whirlwind,” they are:
A) Calm and relaxed
B) Overwhelmed by activity
C) Enjoying a vacation
Answer: B) Overwhelmed by activity
3. “Living on borrowed time” indicates:
A) A comfortable situation
B) A precarious or temporary state
C) A long-term plan
Answer: B) A precarious or temporary state
4. If someone is “up to their ears” in work, they are:
A) Enjoying leisure time
B) Deeply involved and busy
C) Planning for the future
Answer: B) Deeply involved and busy
1. What does “burn the midnight oil” mean?
A) To work late into the night
B) To relax with a book
C) To eat dinner late
Answer: A) To work late into the night
2. If someone is “caught in a whirlwind,” they are:
A) Calm and relaxed
B) Overwhelmed by activity
C) Enjoying a vacation
Answer: B) Overwhelmed by activity
3. “Living on borrowed time” indicates:
A) A comfortable situation
B) A precarious or temporary state
C) A long-term plan
Answer: B) A precarious or temporary state
4. If someone is “up to their ears” in work, they are:
A) Enjoying leisure time
B) Deeply involved and busy
C) Planning for the future
Answer: B) Deeply involved and busy
5. What does “keep your nose to the grindstone” suggest?
A) To enjoy leisure activities
B) To focus on hard work
C) To take frequent breaks
Answer: B) To focus on hard work
6. “A full plate” refers to:
A) Having too much food
B) Being busy with many tasks
C) A dining situation
Answer: B) Being busy with many tasks
7. What does it mean to “go the extra mile”?
A) To take a longer route
B) To put in more effort than expected
C) To travel far distances
Answer: B) To put in more effort than expected
8. If someone is “running around like a chicken with its head cut off,” they are:
A) Calm and composed
B) Very busy and disorganized
C) Planning carefully
Answer: B) Very busy and disorganized
9. “Time flies” suggests that:
A) Time moves slowly
B) Time passes quickly
C) Time is irrelevant
Answer: B) Time passes quickly
10. What does “make hay while the sun shines” mean?
A) To waste time
B) To take advantage of favorable conditions
C) To relax in the sun
Answer: B) To take advantage of favorable conditions
Conclusion
Idioms for busy provide colorful and relatable expressions that capture the essence of our hectic lives. They help us articulate feelings of overwhelm, urgency, and the struggle to manage numerous commitments. By using these idioms, we can enrich our conversations, making them more vivid and engaging.
Carla Jones is an expert blogger in English Language Teaching, sharing innovative strategies and insights to empower educators and enhance language learning experiences for students worldwide.
