English idiom

have your hands full

Register · Neutral CEFR B1

Post

Figurative meaning

To be very busy or fully occupied with responsibilities.

Why this phrase?

Hands already carrying as much as they can hold represent a person with no capacity for more tasks.

Example

“With three toddlers at home, they certainly have their hands full.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

have too many irons in the fire

To be involved in too many activities at once.

call it a day

To decide to stop working on something for now.

do the job

to be good enough to achieve the desired result

hit the ground running

to start a new job or project with immediate energy and effectiveness, without needing a slow start

learn the ropes

To learn how to do a job or task properly.

lend a hand

to give someone practical help

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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