have (one's) hands full
To be busy or completely occupied with dealing with something. I have my hands full with all these meetings today, so can I call you back tomorrow? Paula has her hands full with those kids. We had our hands full once the baby arrived, but my mom was a huge help, bringing us meals every day.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
have one's hands full (with someone or something)
Fig. to be busy or totally occupied with someone or something. I have my hands full with my three children. You have your hands full with managing the store.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
have one's hands full
Be extremely busy, as in With the new baby she really has her hands full. [Second half of 1400s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
have one's hands full, to
To be completely occupied or very busy, to have more than enough to do. This expression dates from the fifteenth century or earlier. It appears in Thomas Malory’s
Morte d’Arthur: “Ye shalle have bothe your handes ful of me.” See also
plate, to have a lot/enough on one's.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer