have one's hands full, to
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.
See also: full, hand, have
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
have one's hands full
Be extremely busy, as in With the new baby she really has her hands full. [Second half of 1400s]
See also: full, hand, have
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
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.
See also: hand, have
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- be full of beans
- full circle, come
- full of years
- chock
- chock full of
- chock full of (something)
- in full flight
- glass
- seize the moment
- full up