bite off more than you can chew

bite off more than (one) can chew

To take on more responsibility than one can handle. I bit off more than I could chew when I volunteered to manage three little league teams in one season.
See also: bite, can, chew, more, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bite off more than you can chew

If you bite off more than you can chew, you try to do a task that is too big for you or too difficult. I didn't know if I could even memorize a text of that length and started to worry that I had bitten off more than I could chew. Don't bite off more than you can chew simply because everything is going so well.
See also: bite, can, chew, more, off
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

bite off more than you can chew

take on a commitment you cannot fulfil.
See also: bite, can, chew, more, off
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

bite off ˌmore than you can ˈchew

(informal) attempt to do something that is too difficult for you or that you do not have enough time to do: He’s promised to get all this work finished by the weekend but I’ve got a feeling he’s bitten off more than he can chew.
See also: bite, can, chew, more, off
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • deep water
  • drive (one) out of office
  • force (one) out of office
  • force out of office
  • give (one) (one's) head
  • give head
  • give somebody their head
  • give someone their head
  • cooking for one
  • 1FTR
References in periodicals archive
18) Don't bite off more than you can chew if you do decide on taking the direct exporting route.