Thesaurus article:having a lot to do

having a lot to do

These words are all used of people who have a lot to do.

The most common word for this isbusy. If you are busy, you are working hard or giving your attention to a particular thing.Busyis often used to refer to doing specific tasks, but it can also refer to people who always have things to do and never rest.

I was busy clearing out the shed.

The kids are busy with homework.

Reorganizing the kitchen should keep me busy for a while.

He's always so busy - he needs to rest!

There are many idioms to refer to being busy. If you are very busy and it is almost more than you can manage, you can say that you areup to your ears, youreyeballs, youreyesor, in informal contexts, yourneckin something.

I'm up to my ears in chores!

Don't bother her - she's up to her eyeballs in paperwork.

I'm up to my eyes in work at the moment.

I can't help, I'm up to my neck in schoolwork.

If youhave your hands full, you are so busy that you do not have time to do anything else.

I have my hands full with the kids at the moment, so I can't take on any more work.

If you have a lot of important things to do, you can say that youhave a lot on your plateor that youhave enough on your plate.

I see you have a lot on your plate, so I'll leave you to it.

I can't take on more work - I have enough on my place as it is!

If someone asks you to do something but you are busy doing something else instead, you can say that you arein the middle ofdoing that thing.

Can you get the phone? I'm in the middle of putting the washing out on the line.

There are also idioms to describe being very busy or active but not accomplishing anything. If you arechasing your tail, you are busy doing a task in a way that means you will not make any progress, though it seems like the work you are doing has value.

We can clean up the river down in the village, but unless we address the pollution from the mine up the mountain, we're just chasing our tails.

If you are very busy with a task but get very few results from it, you can say in informal contexts that you arerunning round in circles.Run round in circlesis UK English; in US English, you would userun around in circles.

UKWe've been running round in circles trying to find out what happened.

If you arerunning round like a headless chicken, you are very busy with many things but are not doing anything effectively.Run round like a headless chickenis UK English; in US English, you would userun around like a headless chicken.

He's so panicked that he won't get the work done on time that he's running round like a headless chicken and getting nothing done.

Anactiveperson is busy with a particular activity.Activeis also used to refer to being physically active.

She has a very active social life.

I try to stay active by walking the dog.

If you stay physically active and are always moving from one activity to another, you can say that you areon the goor, in informal contexts,on the move.

I've been on the go all day - I'm exhausted!

He's a busy child who is always on the move and never sits still.

If you are moving around quickly and doing many things at once, you can say you areas busy as a bee.Busy as a beeimplies pleasant activity.

He's just busy as a bee, colouring and playing with his blocks.

not available
full of activity
too full of vehicles

单词	thesaurus/articles/having-a-lot-to-do
释义	Thesaurus article:having a lot to do having a lot to do These words are all used of people who have a lot to do. The most common word for this isbusy. If you are busy, you are working hard or giving your attention to a particular thing.Busyis often used to refer to doing specific tasks, but it can also refer to people who always have things to do and never rest. I was busy clearing out the shed. The kids are busy with homework. Reorganizing the kitchen should keep me busy for a while. He's always so busy - he needs to rest! There are many idioms to refer to being busy. If you are very busy and it is almost more than you can manage, you can say that you areup to your ears, youreyeballs, youreyesor, in informal contexts, yourneckin something. I'm up to my ears in chores! Don't bother her - she's up to her eyeballs in paperwork. I'm up to my eyes in work at the moment. I can't help, I'm up to my neck in schoolwork. If youhave your hands full, you are so busy that you do not have time to do anything else. I have my hands full with the kids at the moment, so I can't take on any more work. If you have a lot of important things to do, you can say that youhave a lot on your plateor that youhave enough on your plate. I see you have a lot on your plate, so I'll leave you to it. I can't take on more work - I have enough on my place as it is! If someone asks you to do something but you are busy doing something else instead, you can say that you arein the middle ofdoing that thing. Can you get the phone? I'm in the middle of putting the washing out on the line. There are also idioms to describe being very busy or active but not accomplishing anything. If you arechasing your tail, you are busy doing a task in a way that means you will not make any progress, though it seems like the work you are doing has value. We can clean up the river down in the village, but unless we address the pollution from the mine up the mountain, we're just chasing our tails. If you are very busy with a task but get very few results from it, you can say in informal contexts that you arerunning round in circles.Run round in circlesis UK English; in US English, you would userun around in circles. UKWe've been running round in circles trying to find out what happened. If you arerunning round like a headless chicken, you are very busy with many things but are not doing anything effectively.Run round like a headless chickenis UK English; in US English, you would userun around like a headless chicken. He's so panicked that he won't get the work done on time that he's running round like a headless chicken and getting nothing done. Anactiveperson is busy with a particular activity.Activeis also used to refer to being physically active. She has a very active social life. I try to stay active by walking the dog. If you stay physically active and are always moving from one activity to another, you can say that you areon the goor, in informal contexts,on the move. I've been on the go all day - I'm exhausted! He's a busy child who is always on the move and never sits still. If you are moving around quickly and doing many things at once, you can say you areas busy as a bee.Busy as a beeimplies pleasant activity. He's just busy as a bee, colouring and playing with his blocks. Related articles not available full of activity too full of vehicles Cambridge English Thesaurus© Cambridge University Press#https://dictionary.cambridge.org//thesaurus/articles/having-a-lot-to-do##
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Thesaurus article:having a lot to do

having a lot to do

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