English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Bite off more than can chew
Meaning
The idiom "bite off more than you can chew" means that someone has taken on more tasks or responsibilities than they are capable of handling. They may have underestimated the difficulty or complexity of the task, or they may not have sufficient experience or resources to complete it successfully.
Usage
- "I realized I had bitten off more than I could chew when I started a new job that required me to learn a new skill set."
- "She was overwhelmed with work and felt like she had bitten off more than she could chew."
- "After starting a new business, he realized he had bitten off more than he could chew and had to lay off some employees."
- "The student who struggled with math found out that they had bitten off more than they could chew when they were assigned a complex problem."
- "When I committed to running a marathon, I felt like I had bitten off more than I could chew, but I persevered and completed it." The usage of this idiom can vary depending on the context. For example, it can be used in a negative or positive way, depending on the outcome of the situation.
Roots and History
The origin of the idiom "bite off more than you can chew" is unclear. However, it is believed to have been in use since at least the early 20th century. The first known use of this phrase was recorded in a book written in 1937. It's possible that the idiom has its roots in the old English phrase "bite off more than one can swallow." This phrase was used to describe someone who had taken on more work than they could handle. Over time, the meaning of the idiom has remained relatively consistent, although it has become more commonly used in contemporary language.
Synonyms in English
- "Take on more than one can handle"
- "Overestimate one's abilities"
- "Underestimate the difficulty of a task"
- "Be overly ambitious"
- "Bite off more than one can chew"
Synonyms in other languages
- Spanish: "Hacer más que lo que se puede comer" This phrase means that someone has taken on more tasks or responsibilities than they are capable of handling, similar to the English idiom.
- French: "Manger plus qu'on peut" This phrase means that someone has taken on more tasks or responsibilities than they are capable of handling, similar to the English idiom.
- German: "Zu viel Essen lassen" This phrase means that someone has taken on more tasks or responsibilities than they are capable of handling, similar to the English idiom.
- Italian: "Mangiare più di quanto si può digerire" This phrase means that someone has taken on more tasks or responsibilities than they are capable of handling, similar to the English idiom.
- Russian: "Забрать с собой больше, чем можно съесть" This phrase means that someone has taken on more tasks or responsibilities than they are capable of handling, similar to the English idiom.