spread (something or oneself) too thin

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spread (something or oneself) too thin

To expend more time, resources, or energy than one can maintain or sustain; to undertake too many activities at the same time. Between school, work, and volunteering, I've just been spreading myself a bit too thin lately. I know you're eager to branch out across the state, but we have to be careful not to spread our team too thin.

See also: spread, thin

spread too thin

Having expended more resources, energy, or time than one can maintain or sustain; overwhelmed by undertaking too many activities at the same time. Between school, work, and volunteering, I'm just spread a bit too thin lately. The injury-plagued team was simply spread too thin by the end of the seven-game series.

See also: spread, thin

spread yourself too thin

If you spread yourself too thin, you try to do too many different things at the same time, with the result that you cannot do any of them well. At the time I was spreading myself too thin, with lots of different projects. Note: Other adverbs can be used instead of too. `There are 80 of us taking care of 117 departments.' — `Isn't that spreading yourself a little thin?' Note: You can also say that a person or organization spreads themselves too thinly. Like so many businesses, the company grew too fast and spread itself too thinly across too many different areas.

See also: spread, thin

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

spread yourself too thin

be involved in so many different activities or projects that your time and energy are not used to good effect.

See also: spread, thin

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

spread yourself too ˈthin

try to do so many different things at the same time that you do not do any of them properly: Are you sure you can manage an evening job as well? Don’t you think you’re spreading yourself a bit too thin?

See also: spread, thin

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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