english
1
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with BUSY, Also see GET BUSY.
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
person
busy
if you are busy, you have a lot of things you need to do:
• Sorry I haven’t called you, but I’ve been really busy. • a busy housewife • Angela was becoming more and more unhappy, but her husband was too busy to notice. • Not now Stephen, I’m busy. • Alex is busy studying for his exams.
rushed/run off your feet
[ not before noun ] especially British English spoken very busy and in a hurry, because you have too many things to do:
• We’ve been absolutely rushed off our feet getting ready for our son’s birthday party.
snowed under
[ not before noun ] especially British English so busy that you can hardly deal with all the work you have to do:
• I can’t stop for lunch today – I’m completely snowed under. • We’ve been snowed under with applications for the job.
up to your ears/neck in something
[ not before noun ] informal extremely busy because you have a lot of work to deal with:
• Teachers say they are up to their ears in paperwork and don’t have enough time for teaching.
tied up
[ not before noun ] busy in your job, so that you cannot do anything else:
• I’m sorry, but he’s tied up at the moment. Could you call back later? • I can’t see you tomorrow: I’m tied up all day.
have a lot to do
especially spoken to have to do a lot of things, so that you need to hurry or work hard:
• Let’s get started – we have a lot to do.
have a lot on
British English , have a lot going on American English especially spoken to be busy, especially because you have arranged to do a lot of things during a particular period:
• I’ve got a lot on this weekend. • He says he’ll try and see you as soon as possible, but he has a lot going on this afternoon.
time
busy
use this about times when you have a lot of things you need to do:
• We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. • July and August are our busiest times.
hectic
a hectic time or situation is extremely busy, so that you are always in a hurry and often feel excited or worried:
• It was really hectic at work today. • The band had a hectic recording schedule.
the rush hour
the time in the morning and evening when a lot of people are travelling to or from work:
• The buses are so crowded during the rush hour you never get a seat. • In most British cities the rush hour does not start until about 8 o'clock.
Longman-Thesaurus
3
general::
adj. VERBS be, look, seem | become, get | keep, remain She needed to keep busy. | keep sb I've got enough work to keep you busy. ADV. awfully, extremely, really, terribly, very | exceptionally, particularly | desperately, frantically | a bit, fairly, pretty, quite, rather | constantly PREP. with She was busy with her make-up.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
4
general::
adj.
lots to do:
She was a busy doctor.
Simple Definitions