B2idiominformalworkIELTS-friendly
have a lot on your plate
USUK
to have many tasks or problems to deal with at the same time
A polite way to explain why you can't take on more. 'Your' changes: my plate, her plate. British speakers often say 'have got'.
In context
I'd love to help, but I've got a lot on my plate this week.
You have a lot on your plate with a new job and a baby, so let me help.
More idioms about work
- a nine-to-five joba regular office job with fixed hours, usually from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- bite off more than you can chewto try to do more than you are able to manage
- call it a dayto decide to stop working, usually because you have done enough for now
- cut cornersto do something quickly or cheaply by skipping steps, often lowering quality or safety
- drop the ballto make a mistake by forgetting or failing to do something you were responsible for