Definition
To be very busy or completely occupied with tasks or responsibilities, often implying that one has as much as they can handle. Suggests being at or near capacity for managing obligations.
Etymology
A literal phrase that became metaphorical, originally referring to carrying as much as one's hands could physically hold. The figurative use for being busy with responsibilities developed naturally in the 1600s-1700s as the concept extended beyond physical carrying.
Kelly Says
This phrase beautifully captures the physical sensation of being overwhelmed - when your hands are literally full, you can't pick up anything else without dropping something. It's why we instinctively gesture with our hands when saying we're too busy, even though the busyness isn't physical.
Translations
ARالعربية
يديكم مشغولة
yid-ikum mish-ghula
BNবাংলা
হাতে কাজ আছে
hate kaaj ache
CACatalà
tenir les mans ocupades
te-nir les mans ok-u-pa-des
CSČeština
mít ruce plné
mit ru-ce pl-né
DADansk
have fulde hænder
have ful-de hen-der
DEDeutsch
die Hände voll zu haben
dee hen-deh fohl tsu hah-ben
ELΕλληνικά
να έχεις τα χέρια γεμάτα
na e-chis ta cher-ia ge-mata
ESEspañol
tener las manos ocupadas
tener las manos ok-u-pa-das
FAفارسی
دستت پر کار است
dast-et par kaar ast
FISuomi
kädet täynnä
ka-det tyy-nna
FRFrançais
avoir les mains pleines
a-vwa-r le-man pleen
GUGU
હાથ ભર્યા
haath bhar-ya
HAHA
bango aiki
ban-go a-iki
HEעברית
לא מעט עבודות
lo me-at e-vo-dot
HIहिन्दी
हाथों में काम है
haathon mein kaam hai
HUMagyar
teljes kézzel
tel-jes ké-zzel
IDBahasa Indonesia
tangan penuh
tan-gan pe-nul
IGIG
ịrị n'akụrụ
ee-ri ni-a-ku-ru
ITItaliano
avere le mani piene
a-vè-re le mani pje-e-ne
KKKK
қолдар жай
kol-dar jay
KMKM
ល្បាយពេញ
lba-y pe-ny
KO한국어
손이 가득 차 있다
soni ga-deuk cha it-da
MRMR
हाता भरलेले
haata bhar-le-le
MSBahasa Melayu
tangan penuh
tan-gan pe-nul
MYမြန်မာ
လက်များ ပြည့်
let-ma-yar pyin
NLNederlands
volle handen hebben
vol-le han-den he-ben
NONorsk
ha fullt opp hendene
ha ful-t opp hen-de-ne
PAPA
ਹੱਥ ਭਰੇ
hatth bhar-e
PLPolski
mieć dużo roboty
mjeć du-cho ro-bo-ty
PTPortuguês
ter as mãos cheias
ter as mawsh che-as
RORomână
a avea mâinile pline
a-ave ma-in-ile p-li-ne
RUРусский
руки заняты
ruki zanyaty
SVSvenska
hajpa händerna fulla
hajpa han-der-na ful-la
SWKiswahili
kuja kamili
koo-ja ka-mi-li
TAதமிழ்
கையிலே வேலை இருக்கிறது
kai-li-laye ve-lai ir-ukkir-atu
TEతెలుగు
చేతులు బిజీ
che-tu-lu bi-jee
TLTL
punong kamay
pu-non ka-may
TRTürkçe
ellerin dolu
el-le-rin do-lu
UKУкраїнська
мати руки зайняті
mati ruky zaynyaty
URاردو
ہاتھوں میں کام ہے
haathon mein kaam hai
VITiếng Việt
tay tay đầy
tay tay day
YOYO
àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ gbogbo
awon or-ro g-bo-go
ZH中文
手头很忙
shǒu tóu hěn máng
ZUZU
izwi eziphilayo
ee-zwi e-zi-phi-la-yo