English Idioms #5

English Idioms #5

We are about half way through the third quarter at Optimus Language School and students are trying hard not to let themselves get overwhelmed with their studying. So, we thought we’d give you some idioms to express your feelings!

 Use these idioms when you have a lot of responsibilities to maintain all at the same time:

-to have your hands full

     Ex: “You sure have your hands full with five teenagers in your house!”

-to have a lot on your plate/ to have a full plate

     Ex: “I’m taking three night classes and working six days a week. I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.”

-to juggle (too many things)

     Ex: “Single mothers often have to juggle two or three jobs along with having a family to take care of and a house to maintain. It’s a hard life.”

 However, if you have TOO MUCH to do and not enough time to finish it all, use these idioms:

-to be swamped

     Ex: “Department store employees are always so swamped during the holidays.”

-to be in the weeds

     Ex: “I’m really going to be in the weeds if my teammates don’t help me with our group project.”

-to burn the candle at both ends

     Ex: “He’s been waking up early to go to work and staying up late to study. He’ll never survive if he keeps burning the candle at both ends like this!”

-to bite off more than you can chew

     Ex: “I think I bit off more than I could chew when I agreed to plan her wedding and make the cake.”

-to be in over your head

     Ex: “Those kids are in over their heads trying to make that life-sized robot out of Legos.”

-to be in too deep

     Ex: “We are in too deep with all this work to do and only a couple of hours left to finish.”

-to be underwater

     Ex: “If you don’t get started on your chores right now, you’re going to be underwater pretty quickly and you won’t be able to go out with your friends later.”

-to be stretched too thin/ to be spread too thin

     Ex: “I feel like I’ve been stretched too thin at work lately. It seems like I’ll never finish all of my work!”


Try these out and let us know on our Facebook or Instagram what other idiom topics you would like us to feature!


Tagged:

Published on August 23, 2016

A leading English language school accredited by the CEA (Commission on English Language Accreditation) and approved by SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) located in Los Angeles, California. Learn English in LA with our ESL classes, TOEFL preparation, and English speaking classes. Are you serious about improving your English? Join a class today!