In English, being busy is a common experience—and there are plenty of lively idioms to describe it! Whether you’re “running around like a headless chicken” or “snowed under” with work, these expressions capture the chaos, pressure, and nonstop energy of busy life
. Using idioms makes your conversations sound more vivid, relatable, and natural. They also help you express your workload or hectic schedule with a little humor or drama.
In this article, we’ll explore 27 popular idioms for being busy, along with their meanings and examples.
1. Busy as a Bee
Meaning: Very active and hardworking.
Example: “She’s been busy as a bee preparing for the event.”
Tone: Positive, energetic.
Other ways to say it: Hard at work, always on the go.
2. Burning the Midnight Oil
Meaning: Working late into the night.
Example: “He’s been burning the midnight oil to finish his project.”
Tone: Serious, hardworking.
Other ways to say it: Staying up late, working overtime.
3. Swamped with Work
Meaning: Overloaded with tasks.
Example: “I can’t go out tonight—I’m swamped with work.”
Tone: Overwhelmed, stressed.
Other ways to say it: Drowning in work, buried in tasks.
4. Snowed Under
Meaning: Having too much work to handle.
Example: “I’ve been snowed under with assignments lately.”
Tone: Overwhelmed, stressed.
Other ways to say it: Overloaded, under pressure.
5. Up to My Ears
Meaning: Extremely busy.
Example: “I’m up to my ears in paperwork.”
Tone: Stressed, humorous.
Other ways to say it: Drowning in work, buried.
6. Chained to the Desk
Meaning: Stuck working for long hours.
Example: “I’ve been chained to my desk all week.”
Tone: Frustrated, stressed.
Other ways to say it: Stuck at work, glued to the desk.
7. Running Around Like a Headless Chicken
Meaning: Being extremely busy but in a disorganized way.
Example: “I was running around like a headless chicken before the meeting.”
Tone: Humorous, chaotic.
Other ways to say it: Frantically busy, disorganized.
8. Have a Lot on One’s Plate
Meaning: Having many responsibilities.
Example: “I can’t take on more tasks—I already have a lot on my plate.”
Tone: Stressed, overwhelmed.
Other ways to say it: Overloaded, too much to handle.
9. Hectic Schedule
Meaning: A very busy and demanding timetable.
Example: “My hectic schedule leaves me no time to relax.”
Tone: Exhausted, overwhelmed.
Other ways to say it: Packed agenda, overloaded.
10. Jam-Packed Day
Meaning: A very busy day with no free time.
Example: “I have a jam-packed day ahead of me.”
Tone: Informal, energetic.
Other ways to say it: Fully booked, packed schedule.
11. Keeping the Ball Rolling
Meaning: Maintaining progress and staying productive.
Example: “We need to keep the ball rolling on this project.”
Tone: Motivational, positive.
Other ways to say it: Stay on track, keep moving forward.
12. No Rest for the Weary
Meaning: Even when tired, work continues.
Example: “I just finished a big task, but there’s no rest for the weary!”
Tone: Exhausted, humorous.
Other ways to say it: Work never stops, always busy.
13. Hustle and Bustle
Meaning: A lot of busy activity.
Example: “The hustle and bustle of city life can be exhausting.”
Tone: Neutral, descriptive.
Other ways to say it: Fast-paced life, constant activity.
14. Keep One’s Nose to the Grindstone
Meaning: To work hard without stopping.
Example: “If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you’ll finish by Friday.”
Tone: Motivational, strict.
Other ways to say it: Stay focused, work diligently.
15. At Full Throttle
Meaning: Working at maximum speed or effort.
Example: “We’re at full throttle to meet the deadline.”
Tone: Intense, determined.
Other ways to say it: Going full speed, working at full capacity.
16. Flat Out
Meaning: Working as hard as possible.
Example: “I’ve been working flat out all week.”
Tone: Exhausted, determined.
Other ways to say it: Fully engaged, nonstop effort.
17. Working Like a Dog
Meaning: Working extremely hard.
Example: “I’ve been working like a dog to finish this project.”
Tone: Tired, exaggerated.
Other ways to say it: Working tirelessly, exhausted.
18. Working Against the Clock
Meaning: Rushing to meet a deadline.
Example: “We’re working against the clock to finish before Friday.”
Tone: Urgent, pressured.
Other ways to say it: Racing the clock, tight deadline.
19. Work One’s Fingers to the Bone
Meaning: Working very hard, often to exhaustion.
Example: “She worked her fingers to the bone to build her business.”
Tone: Admirative, exhausted.
Other ways to say it: Work tirelessly, overwork.
20. Slaving Away
Meaning: Working very hard with little rest.
Example: “I’ve been slaving away in the kitchen all day.”
Tone: Exhausted, exaggerated.
Other ways to say it: Working nonstop, overworking.
21. Spinning Plates
Meaning: Managing multiple tasks at once.
Example: “Between work and family, I feel like I’m spinning plates.”
Tone: Overwhelmed, humorous.
Other ways to say it: Juggling tasks, multitasking.
22. In the Thick of It
Meaning: In the middle of a very busy or difficult situation.
Example: “We’re in the thick of it at work this month.”
Tone: Serious, focused.
Other ways to say it: Deeply involved, fully engaged.
23. Biting Off More Than You Can Chew
Meaning: Taking on more work than you can handle.
Example: “I bit off more than I could chew with this extra project.”
Tone: Regretful, overwhelmed.
Other ways to say it: Overcommitted, overloaded.
24. Like Trying to Catch Smoke
Meaning: A nearly impossible task.
Example: “Keeping up with all these deadlines feels like trying to catch smoke.”
Tone: Frustrated, overwhelmed.
Other ways to say it: Impossible task, unmanageable workload.
25. Hit the Ground Running
Meaning: Start something actively and with full energy.
Example: “On my first day at work, I had to hit the ground running.”
Tone: Motivational, energetic.
Other ways to say it: Start strong, jump right in.
26. Burning the Candle at Both Ends
Meaning: Working too hard without rest.
Example: “She’s burning the candle at both ends, staying up late and waking up early.”
Tone: Concerned, serious.
Other ways to say it: Overworking, exhausting oneself.
27. All in a Day’s Work
Meaning: A normal part of a busy routine.
Example: “Fixing last-minute problems is all in a day’s work for me.”
Tone: Casual, accepting.
Other ways to say it: Part of the job, nothing new.
Conclusion
Busy idioms are a great way to describe a packed schedule, frantic activity, or constant hustle with creativity and flair. These 27 expressions can make your English sound more colorful, natural, and expressive—whether you’re casually chatting or writing more formally.
From feeling “up to your ears” in tasks to “juggling a million things,” the right idiom can perfectly capture your situation. Practice using these phrases, and you’ll never be at a loss for words when life gets hectic!
