We all know the rush of a packed day—and idioms for busy help turn that chaos into colorful language. They capture the feeling of racing the clock, burning the candle at both ends or having too much on your plate.
These expressions make the overwhelming feel seen, and sometimes even a little lighter. With strong images and easy rhythm, they bring a spark of humor and truth to the busyness of life.
Best Idioms for Busy
1. Snowed under
Meaning: Feeling completely overwhelmed by work, as if buried beneath a snowstorm of tasks.
In a Sentence:
She’s snowed under with deadlines this week.
I wanted to go out, but I was completely snowed under at the office.
Other Ways to Say: Swamped, I’m buried (in work), Drowning in work
2. Swamped
Meaning: Overloaded with responsibilities, as if drowning in a swamp of tasks.
In a Sentence:
He’s swamped with reports and emails.
I’ve been so swamped lately I barely have time to eat lunch.
Other Ways to Say: Snowed under, Slammed, I’m overwhelmed (with work)
3. I’m buried (in work)
Meaning: Feeling crushed by the weight of numerous assignments or duties.
In a Sentence:
Don’t call me today—I’m buried in work.
She’s buried under a mountain of paperwork.
Other Ways to Say: Buried under a pile, Swamped, Up to your ears in something
4. Slammed
Meaning: Extremely busy with no breathing room—like being slammed with task after task.
In a Sentence:
We’re slammed today at the store.
He’s been slammed ever since the new project started.
Other Ways to Say: Swamped, Hectic, Under the gun
5. Up to your ears in something
Meaning: So involved in work or problems that it feels like you’re submerged in them.
In a Sentence:
She’s up to her ears in deadlines and meetings.
I’m up to my ears in editing this week’s content.
Other Ways to Say: Up to your neck in something, I’m buried (in work), Snowed under
6. Up to your neck in something
Meaning: Deeply immersed in responsibilities, almost beyond control.
In a Sentence:
He’s up to his neck in paperwork.
She’s up to her neck in planning the conference.
Other Ways to Say: In over your head, Drowning in work, Pressed for time
7. I’m overwhelmed (with work)
Meaning: Emotionally and mentally drained due to an excessive workload.
In a Sentence:
I’m overwhelmed with everything going on.
She felt overwhelmed just looking at her to-do list.
Other Ways to Say: Swamped, Under the gun, Drowning in work
8. Drowning in work
Meaning: Feeling like you’re sinking beneath a sea of tasks with no way out.
In a Sentence:
He’s drowning in work this week.
We’re all drowning in client emails and reports.
Other Ways to Say: Snowed under, In over your head, Buried under a pile
9. In over your head
Meaning: Engaged in tasks that are too much to handle or beyond your capacity.
In a Sentence:
She realized she was in over her head with the new role.
He’s definitely in over his head trying to lead two projects.
Other Ways to Say: Up to your neck in something, Overwhelmed, Under pressure
10. Buried under a pile
Meaning: Having so many tasks or responsibilities that they feel physically stacked on top of you.
In a Sentence:
I’m buried under a pile of paperwork.
He’s buried under a pile of unfinished assignments.
Other Ways to Say: I’m buried (in work), Drowning in work, Snowed under
11. Tied up
Meaning: So busy with scheduled tasks or appointments that you can’t take on anything else.
In a Sentence:
Sorry, I’m tied up with meetings all afternoon.
She was tied up and couldn’t return my call.
Other Ways to Say: Pressed for time, I am busy, No time to breathe
12. Hectic
Meaning: Full of fast-paced activity, making everything feel chaotic and rushed.
In a Sentence:
Today’s been absolutely hectic at work.
My schedule is too hectic this week to meet up.
Other Ways to Say: Slammed, Caught up in a whirlwind, Running around like a headless chicken
13. I am busy
Meaning: A general expression indicating you’re engaged with tasks and unavailable.
In a Sentence:
Can we talk later? I’m busy right now.
I’ve been busy finishing up my deadlines.
Other Ways to Say: Tied up, Have your hands full, On the go
14. Run off your feet
Meaning: So busy that you’re constantly moving without rest, like running non-stop.
In a Sentence:
She’s been run off her feet since the event started.
I’m run off my feet preparing for the conference.
Other Ways to Say: Slammed, Spinning too many plates, No time to breathe
15. Juggling too many balls
Meaning: Managing multiple responsibilities at once, like a juggler trying to keep everything in the air.
In a Sentence:
He’s juggling too many balls between work and family.
She’s juggling too many things and it’s starting to show.
Other Ways to Say: Keep all the balls in the air, Spinning too many plates, Multitasking
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Working Hard with Real Impact
16. On the go
Meaning: Constantly active, moving from one task or place to another.
In a Sentence:
I’ve been on the go since 7 a.m.
He’s always on the go, even during weekends.
Other Ways to Say: Always busy, No time to breathe, Like ants in a colony
17. No time to breathe
Meaning: So occupied that you don’t even have a moment to rest or catch your breath.
In a Sentence:
I’ve had no time to breathe all day.
She’s working so hard that she barely has time to breathe.
Other Ways to Say: Run off your feet, Pressed for time, Caught up in a whirlwind
18. Caught up in a whirlwind
Meaning: Feeling swept up in a fast-paced, chaotic schedule.
In a Sentence:
Since the launch, I’ve been caught up in a whirlwind.
She’s caught up in a whirlwind of deadlines and meetings.
Other Ways to Say: Hectic, Spinning too many plates, On the go
19. Spinning too many plates
Meaning: Trying to balance several demanding tasks at once.
In a Sentence:
He’s spinning too many plates and something’s going to fall.
I’m spinning too many plates with work and home duties.
Other Ways to Say: Juggling too many balls, Keep all the balls in the air, Tied up
20. Pressed for time
Meaning: Feeling rushed or short on time, often with tight deadlines.
In a Sentence:
I can’t chat—I’m pressed for time.
She’s always pressed for time in the mornings.
Other Ways to Say: In a time crunch, Tied up, Against the clock
21. Burning the candle at both ends
Meaning: Working from early morning until late at night, exhausting yourself by doing too much.
In a Sentence:
He’s been burning the candle at both ends trying to meet the deadline.
She looks tired—must be burning the candle at both ends again.
Other Ways to Say: Working around the clock, Burn the midnight oil, Work your fingers to the bone
22. Running around like a headless chicken
Meaning: Acting in a rushed, frantic way without a clear plan, due to time pressure.
In a Sentence:
She’s been running around like a headless chicken all day.
I was running around like a headless chicken before the wedding.
Other Ways to Say: Hectic, Caught up in a whirlwind, Racing against time
23. Against the clock
Meaning: In a hurry to finish something before a tight deadline.
In a Sentence:
We’re working against the clock to submit this proposal.
He’s racing against the clock to finish his thesis.
Other Ways to Say: Pressed for time, Under the gun, In a time crunch
24. Time is ticking
Meaning: A reminder that time is running out and you need to act quickly.
In a Sentence:
Time is ticking—we need to decide now.
She felt the pressure as the time kept ticking away.
Other Ways to Say: Racing against time, Against the clock, In a time crunch
25. Chasing your tail
Meaning: Working hard but getting nowhere, often due to repeating the same unproductive cycle.
In a Sentence:
I’ve been chasing my tail trying to fix these bugs.
He feels like he’s chasing his tail with all these small tasks.
Other Ways to Say: Running like a hamster on a wheel, Spinning too many plates, Going in circles
26. Racing against time
Meaning: Trying to beat the clock to complete something before it’s too late.
In a Sentence:
She’s racing against time to prepare for the big launch.
We were racing against time to save the crops from the storm.
Other Ways to Say: Against the clock, In a time crunch, Pressed for time
27. Under the gun
Meaning: Under intense pressure to finish something quickly.
In a Sentence:
We’re under the gun to deliver this project by Friday.
He performs best when he’s under the gun.
Other Ways to Say: Slammed, Up against it, In over your head
28. Up against it
Meaning: Facing a tight deadline or difficult situation with little time or resources.
In a Sentence:
She’s really up against it with all the last-minute changes.
We’re up against it to get this event ready by tomorrow.
Other Ways to Say: Under the gun, In a time crunch, Pressed for time
29. In a time crunch
Meaning: Having very limited time to complete something important.
In a Sentence:
I’m in a time crunch, so this needs to be quick.
He was in a serious time crunch during finals week.
Other Ways to Say: Pressed for time, Racing against time, Against the clock
30. Working around the clock
Meaning: Working non-stop, day and night, with no rest.
In a Sentence:
The team has been working around the clock to meet the launch date.
She’s been working around the clock since the crisis began.
Other Ways to Say: Burn the midnight oil, Burning the candle at both ends, Slammed
31. As busy as a bee
Meaning: Constantly active and hardworking, like a bee buzzing from flower to flower.
In a Sentence:
She’s as busy as a bee preparing for the event.
You’ve been as busy as a bee all day—take a break!
Other Ways to Say: Busy beaver, Buzzing like a beehive, Like ants in a colony
32. Busy as popcorn on a skillet
Meaning: Extremely busy and moving constantly, like popcorn popping in a hot pan.
In a Sentence:
He’s been busy as popcorn on a skillet today at work.
When the sale started, the store was as busy as popcorn on a skillet.
Other Ways to Say: Running around like a headless chicken, Hectic, Like a bee in a bottle
33. Like a bee in a bottle
Meaning: Moving frantically in all directions, full of nervous energy and disorganization.
In a Sentence:
She was like a bee in a bottle trying to handle everything at once.
He’s buzzing like a bee in a bottle since the project started.
Other Ways to Say: Caught up in a whirlwind, Running around like a headless chicken, On the go
34. As busy as Grand Central Station
Meaning: Full of nonstop activity and noise, like a crowded train terminal.
In a Sentence:
My house is as busy as Grand Central Station this weekend.
That café is as busy as Grand Central Station during lunch.
Other Ways to Say: Hectic, Buzzing like a beehive, As busy as a market
35. Like a cat on a hot tin roof
Meaning: Jittery and restless, jumping from task to task without pause.
In a Sentence:
She was like a cat on a hot tin roof before the big meeting.
He’s been moving like a cat on a hot tin roof all morning.
Other Ways to Say: Anxious, Overwhelmed, On the edge
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Success to Level Up Fast
36. Buzzing like a beehive
Meaning: Full of lively energy and non-stop action, like a hive of bees at work.
In a Sentence:
The office was buzzing like a beehive before the product launch.
Her brain was buzzing like a beehive with all the things to remember.
Other Ways to Say: As busy as a bee, On the go, Lively
37. As busy as a one-armed paperhanger
Meaning: Ridiculously busy, trying to do too much with too little help or time.
In a Sentence:
I’ve been as busy as a one-armed paperhanger with this renovation.
She’s as busy as a one-armed paperhanger handling the kids alone.
Other Ways to Say: Overwhelmed, Work your fingers to the bone, Have your hands full
38. Running like a hamster on a wheel
Meaning: Continuously working without making real progress, like a hamster spinning in place.
In a Sentence:
I feel like I’m running like a hamster on a wheel—so much effort, no results.
He’s been running like a hamster on a wheel with no real direction.
Other Ways to Say: Chasing your tail, Stuck in a rut, Going in circles
39. Like ants in a colony
Meaning: Extremely industrious and organized, working together in a structured rush.
In a Sentence:
The team worked like ants in a colony to set up the event.
Everyone’s moving like ants in a colony in that busy kitchen.
Other Ways to Say: As busy as a bee, On the go, Buzzing with activity
40. As busy as a dog with two tails
Meaning: So active and excited that you can hardly sit still, full of joy and movement.
In a Sentence:
He was as busy as a dog with two tails planning his birthday party.
She’s as busy as a dog with two tails organizing the charity fair.
Other Ways to Say: Energized, Lively, Always moving
41. Have your hands full
Meaning: Being very busy managing multiple responsibilities at once.
In a Sentence:
With two toddlers and a full-time job, she definitely has her hands full.
He’s got his hands full organizing the event and training new staff.
Other Ways to Say: Juggling too many balls, Spinning too many plates, Tying up
42. Busy beaver
Meaning: A hardworking person who is always active and productive, like a beaver building its dam.
In a Sentence:
She’s a really busy beaver—always fixing, planning, or helping.
That intern’s been a busy beaver since day one.
Other Ways to Say: As busy as a bee, Work like a Trojan, Hard worker
43. Busiest men have the most leisure
Meaning: People who stay busy often manage their time so efficiently that they can also enjoy moments of rest.
In a Sentence:
He handles multiple projects and still has time to travel—proving the busiest men have the most leisure.
The way she balances work and rest shows the truth that “the busiest men have the most leisure.”
Other Ways to Say: Effective multitasker, Master of time, Highly organized
44. Work like a Trojan
Meaning: To work with great determination, strength, and endurance—like the legendary warriors of Troy.
In a Sentence:
She worked like a Trojan to meet the deadline.
He’s been working like a Trojan on this renovation project.
Other Ways to Say: Put your nose to the grindstone, Burn the midnight oil, Work your fingers to the bone
45. Keep the plates spinning
Meaning: To manage many different activities at once without letting any fail.
In a Sentence:
Running a business and raising kids? She’s keeping the plates spinning!
He’s got multiple projects and still keeps all the plates spinning.
Other Ways to Say: Juggling too many balls, Multitasking, Spinning too many plates
46. Put your nose to the grindstone
Meaning: To work with intense focus and dedication, often for long periods.
In a Sentence:
He put his nose to the grindstone and didn’t look up until it was done.
She’s got a big exam and has her nose to the grindstone all week.
Other Ways to Say: Burn the midnight oil, Stay focused, Work hard
47. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To stay up late working hard, especially to finish something important.
In a Sentence:
He burned the midnight oil preparing the final report.
She’s been burning the midnight oil for her thesis.
Other Ways to Say: Working around the clock, Burning the candle at both ends, Stay up late to work
48. Hit the ground running
Meaning: To start a task with energy and readiness from the very beginning.
In a Sentence:
She hit the ground running on her first day in the new job.
The campaign hit the ground running after the launch.
Other Ways to Say: Start strong, Dive right in, Full speed ahead
49. Keep all the balls in the air
Meaning: To manage multiple tasks without dropping any, like a juggler.
In a Sentence:
He’s keeping all the balls in the air—school, work, and family life.
She’s amazing at keeping all the balls in the air without stress.
Other Ways to Say: Juggling too many balls, Spinning too many plates, Master multitasker
50. Work your fingers to the bone
Meaning: To work extremely hard, often to the point of physical exhaustion.
In a Sentence:
She worked her fingers to the bone to provide for her children.
They worked their fingers to the bone renovating that house.
Other Ways to Say: Work like a Trojan, Burn the candle at both ends, Exhaust yourself working
Exercise to Practice
- I’ve been __________ with work this week—I barely have time to eat.
- She’s __________ trying to meet all these deadlines.
- After back-to-back meetings, I’m totally __________ and can’t focus anymore.
- We’re __________ right now, trying to deliver everything before Friday.
- He’s __________, handling three big projects at once.
- I’ve got no time—I’m __________ from one task to another.
- You look like you’re __________; maybe you need to take a break.
- Ever since the launch started, we’ve been __________.
- He always manages to __________ and stay productive, even when it’s chaotic.
- With all this pressure, I feel like I’m __________ and just trying to survive.
Answer
- snowed under
- running around like a headless chicken
- burned out
- under the gun
- juggling too many balls
- on the go
- up to your ears in work
- working around the clock
- keep the plates spinning
- keeping my head above water
Conclusion
The stress of a packed schedule becomes easier to express when we use idioms for busy everyday conversation. They turn pressure into pictures—of spinning plates, racing clocks, and overflowing calendars.
These idioms help us share how it feels to be overwhelmed, without saying too much. As you keep using them, they’ll bring clarity, color, and even a little humor to life’s busiest moments.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
