English Idioms for "Busy & Active"

Discover how English idioms like "juggle frogs" and "pressed for time" relate to being busy and active in English.

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a (hive|beehive) of (activity|industry) [phrase]

a place where many people are very busy

Ex: The newsroom was a hive of activity as reporters rushed to get their stories out before the deadline .

to [be|get] (run|rushed) off {one's} feet [phrase]

to have a lot of things that need to be done

Ex: The catering team was rushed off their feet during the wedding reception , making sure all the guests were served .

to [have] (a lot|too much) on {one's} plate [phrase]

to have a certain amount of tasks or problems that need to be dealt with

Ex: The CEO was juggling multiple projects , each one a major undertaking , so she had a lot on her plate .

to [work|slog|sweat] {one's} guts out [phrase]

to work really hard to achieve an aim

Ex: She worked her guts out to meet the deadline, staying up all night and sacrificing her personal time.

(as|) busy as a bee [phrase]

extremely busy with work, activities, etc.

Ex: I have a lot of work to do , so I 'm going to be busy as a bee all day today .

to [work] like a (horse|dog|Trojan) [phrase]

to work exceptionally hard

Ex: The construction crew worked like horses to complete the building on time, even working through the night if necessary.

to [burn] the [candle] at both ends [phrase]

to drain oneself by working very late into the night and getting up early in the morning

Ex: If you keep burning your candles at both ends, you're going to burn out and get sick.

(as|) busy as a beaver [phrase]

extremely active, busy, and hardworking

Ex: She 's been busy as a beaver lately , juggling her job , her family , and her volunteer work .

to [have] {one's} hands full [phrase]

to have a lot of work that needs to be dealt with

Ex: The project manager has his hands full trying to coordinate the team and meet the project deadline .

(in|into) high gear [phrase]

in a state that is extremely efficient or active

Ex: The athletes were in high gear during the final stretch of the race , pushing themselves to the limit to cross the finish line .

to {not} [have] a minute to call {one's} own [phrase]

to be so busy that one has no free time

Ex: The students were so busy with their coursework and extracurricular activities that they did n't have a minute to call their own during the school year

on the go [phrase]

in a state of being actively engaged in various activities or constantly in motion, typically indicating a busy and active lifestyle

Ex: The mobile app allows you to manage tasks on the go .

to [juggle] frogs [phrase]

to try to handle or manage several difficult tasks or responsibilities at the same time, highlighting a busy and demanding situation

Ex: We get the first glimpse of his brilliance when he juggles frogs during his adolescence .

to [spread] {oneself} too thin [phrase]

to take on more tasks or responsibilities than one can handle effectively, resulting in a lack of focus and decreased productivity

Ex: The manager warned us not to spread ourselves too thin by taking on too many clients at once .

pressed for time [phrase]

having very little time left

Ex: perfect tense : She has been pressed for time lately because she 's been working on a big project at work .

the heat [is] on [sentence]

used to indicate that a situation is becoming highly intense or critical, often implying increased pressure, urgency, or scrutiny

Ex: The heat is still on the management team to resolve the ongoing labor dispute.

Work & Money
The Business World	Office Life & Work	Job Responsibilities & Tasks	Job Opportunities
Collaboration & Teamwork	Busy & Active	Earning Money	Wealth & Luxury
Poverty & Financial Issues	Price & Money	Paying & Purchasing	Spending or Saving Money