drowning in work
Swamped with tasks
Drowning in work describes being overwhelmed by an excessive workload, unable to keep up with demands.
The metaphor suggests suffocation—work piling up like water, leaving no room to breathe: I'd love to grab lunch but I'm drowning in work right now.
The image conveys both quantity and helplessness.
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- swampedOverwhelmed beyond capacity
- buriedPlaced beneath earth
- snowed underOverwhelmed by obligations
- slammedClosed with violent force
overloaded · exhausted · running on fumes · deadline · stress · burnout · burning the midnight oil · inbox · overtime · juggling · frantic · hectic · endless · backlog · piling up · no end in sight · behind · stretched thin
- burnoutburned out, burnt out, burn out, burning out, burnout
drowning in worktwiddling one's thumbs
Idle fidgeting while waiting
underemployed · idle · at loose ends · unemployed · between jobs
drowning in workidle
Without activity or purpose
leisurely · taking it easy · relaxed · at leisure · unhurried
drowning in workin control
Managing with authority
ahead of schedule · coasting · smooth sailing · unburdened · under control
drown, drowned, drowns, work, works, worked, working, worker, workers