Idiom: Bite off more than you can chew

"Don't bite off more than you can chew."


Meaning

  • This means to do something that is too difficult or to make a commitment that you can’t keep.
  • Take on more work or a bigger task than you can handle; something that's too difficult for you.
  • Attempt to do something which is hardly achievable.
  • If you say that someone has bitten off more than they can chew, you mean that they are trying to do something which is too difficult for them.


Example Dialog

Professor:  Hello Bernie.  I'm sorry that I have to see you again.

Bernie:  I'm sorry, professor.  I tried as hard as I could.

Professor:  What seems to be the problem?

Bernie:  Well, sir, I decided to take a full course load and I have a part-time job.  I also play hockey and am on the debate team.

Professor:  Do you think that you may have bitten off more than you can chew?

Bernie:  Maybe.  I will see what I can do to adjust my workload.


Example Sentences

  • I think he's bitten off more than he can chew taking all those classes.
  • By accepting two part-time jobs, Bill is clearly biting off more than he can chew.
  • It feels like I bit off more than I could chew when I promised to complete this worksheet in one day.
  • I am sure, she is biting off more than she can chew by promising to solve the difficult puzzle in a few minutes that I couldn’t since the last three days.
  • You’ve bitten off more than you can chew. You are trying to do too much and you can’t do all of these things.
  • To cut down on stress, try to avoid biting off more than you can chew at work.
  • Do you bite off more than you can chew with your life and then regret it?
  • He bought the old hotel but soon realized he had bitten off more than he could chew.
  • Be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. You’re going to have to take a day off sometime!
  • Biting off more than you can chew is, aside from not good for your motivation, bad for your health.
  • If you have to read 100 pages this week, break it down to 20 pages a day – don't bite off more than you can chew.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Idiom/Phrase: "It's on the tip of my tongue"

Image
  "It's on the tip of my tongue" Meaning If something that you want to say is on the tip of your tongue, you think you are sure you know it such as a word, an answer, or a name, but that you cannot remember it at the moment. Often, when you have a word on the tip of your tongue, you can remember what letter it starts with, or what sound it ends Example Dialogs Scene 1: Two friends are talking ... Friend 1: What was the name of that mystery movie we saw last year? I can't quite remember the name.  Friend 2: Oh yeah.  It was a really good movie.  The name is on the tip of my tongue.  Friend 1: It was a strange name.  Give me a minute and I think I can recall it. Scene 2: Two colleagues are talking ... Colleague 1: Do you remember the name of that software we saw demonstrated at last year's trade show?  Colleague 2:  The one that was supposed to amalgamate all customer service help tickets?  Colleague 1:  Yes, that one. What was th...
Read more

Idiom: Behind bars

Image
  "Behind bars" Meaning The idiom 'behind bars'  means in jail or prison. If you say that someone is behind bars, you mean that they are in prison. This idiom is often used as the phrase ‘put someone behind bars.’ Related words:  in jail or prison , incarcerate, imprison, lock up Origin The idiom “ behind bars ” has been in use since the early 18th century. The word “bars” in this idiom refers to the iron bars conventionally used to confine convicted criminals in jails, prisons, or cells. Example Sentences He has spent most of his life behind bars. If you keep hanging around with the wrong crowd, you’ll end up behind bars. Until the court hearing, they will remain behind bars. Fisher was behind bars last night, charged with attempted murder. Nearly 5,000 people a year are put behind bars over motoring penalties. I heard Mike's uncle is behind bars again. I wonder what he did this time! Sir, I'm afraid your son has been put behind bars on a charge of...
Read more

Idiom: (It's) the least I (you) can/could do

Image
  "It's the least I can do." Meaning Something you should do A polite answer to someone who thanks you (and you feel or wish you could do more) A common answer to being thanked for doing something is "It's the least I could do," which is basically synonymous with "It was nothing". You use expressions like 'that's the least that I can do' to mean that you are very willing to do it, or to acknowledge someone's thanks. Example Dialogs A: "Thanks for taking me to the bus stop."  B: "You're welcome. It's the least I could do now that I have a car." A: "Thank you so much for the cookies!"  B: "It's the least we can do to repay you for looking after our pets while we were away." A:   "Thanks for cleaning up."  B:   " It's the least I can do , seeing as I'm staying here rent-free." Example Sentences If your mother cooks a special dinner the least you can d...
Read more