have one's hands full
Too busy already
To have one's hands full is to be fully occupied with demanding tasks or responsibilities, with no capacity for additional burdens.
The image is of someone physically carrying as much as they can manage: With three kids under five, she has her hands full.
Often used to decline new obligations: I'd love to help, but I have my hands full right now.
Sequential toss-and-catch performance
- multitaskingDoing several things concurrently
- hecticIntensely busy, almost overwhelming
- swampedOverwhelmed beyond capacity
- bustlingFull of energetic activity
industrious · productive · active · energetic · dynamic · vigorous · diligent · assiduous
Carrying more than manageable
- stretched thinExtended beyond comfortable limits
- snowed underOverwhelmed by obligations
- overextendedBeyond sustainable capacity
- overworkedLaboring beyond healthy limits
exhausted · stressed · pressured · frazzled · frantic · besieged · bombarded · inundated
Nurturing and guiding children
- childcareSupervision of young ones
- nursingMedical caretaking profession
- eldercareSupport for the aged
- supervisingDirecting and monitoring work
minding · tending · looking after · watching over · nurturing · raising · babysitting · homeschooling
juggling
Sequential toss-and-catch performance
- multitaskingDoing several things concurrently
- hecticIntensely busy, almost overwhelming
- swampedOverwhelmed beyond capacity
bustling · industrious · productive · active · energetic · dynamic · vigorous · diligent · assiduous · rushing
overburdened
Carrying more than manageable
- stretched thinExtended beyond comfortable limits
- snowed underOverwhelmed by obligations
- overextendedBeyond sustainable capacity
overworked · exhausted · stressed · pressured · frazzled · frantic · besieged · bombarded · inundated · at capacity
parenting
Nurturing and guiding children
supervising · minding · tending · looking after · watching over · nurturing · raising · babysitting · homeschooling · caretaking
have one's hands fulltwiddle one's thumbs
Be idle, await action
sit around · be bored · laze about · loaf · kick one's heels
having, hands, handed, handing, handily, handiness, handful, handfuls, fullness