have a lot on one's plate
have a lot on (one's) plate
To have a large or excessive amount of things to do or deal with. I just have a lot on my plate right now while I'm finishing up my degree and doing this huge project for work.
See also: have, lot, on, plate
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
have a lot on one's plate
Also, have too much on one's plate. Have a great deal (or too much) to cope with, as in What with the new baby and the new house, they have a lot on their plate, or I can't take that on now; I've got too much on my plate already. This expression transfers a loaded or overloaded dinner plate to other activities. [First half of 1900s]
See also: have, lot, on, plate
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
plate, to have a lot/enough on one's
To have more than enough to worry about or cope with. This term originated in the 1920s and transferred the image of an overcrowded dinner plate to a very full agenda. R. Simons used it in Houseboat Killing (1959): “I’ll leave you at it. I’ve got plenty on my plate at the moment.” The synonymous my plate is full (or to have a full plate) date from the same period.
See also: enough, have, lot, on
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- up the yin-yang
- twice over
- boast
- boast about
- boast about (someone or something)
- heavily
- tax-and-spend
- boast of (someone or something)
- brag about (someone or something)