run around like a chicken with its head cut off and run in circles

run around like a chicken with its head cut off

Working quickly and with much activity while trying to accomplish a large number of tasks, perhaps simultaneously. Give yourself enough time before deadline so that you don't have to be running around like a chicken with its head cut off at the last minute.

See also: around, chicken, cut, head, like, off, run

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

run around like a chicken with its head cut off and run (around) in circles

Fig. to run around frantically and aimlessly; to be in a state of chaos. (Alludes to a chicken that continues to run around aimlessly after its head has been chopped off.) I spent all afternoon running around like a chicken with its head cut off. If you run around in circles, you'll never get anything done.

See also: and, around, chicken, circle, cut, head, like, off, run

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.