run around like a headless chicken

run around like a headless chicken

Working quickly and with much activity while trying to accomplish a large number of tasks, perhaps simultaneously. Give yourself enough time before deadline so that you don't have to be running around like a headless chicken at the last minute.
See also: around, chicken, headless, like, run
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

run around like a ˌheadless ˈchicken

be very busy and active trying to do something, but not very organized, with the result that you do not succeed: What a day! I’ve been running around like a headless chicken all day!
After a chicken’s head is cut off its body may continue to move for a few moments.
See also: around, chicken, headless, like, run
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • run around like a chicken with its head cut off
  • run around like a chicken with its head cut off and run in circles
  • rush around like a blue-arsed fly
  • run around like a blue-arsed fly
  • a balancing act
  • a balancing/juggling act
  • a committee is a group of men who keep minutes and waste hours
  • group
  • you can't dance at two weddings at once
  • you can't dance at two weddings at the same time
References in periodicals archive
All Petrov has ever done is score a goal from 45 yards out against the lowly Derby (no disrespect) and, as for Reo-Coker, all he has done is run around like a headless chicken.
I like to treat patients, not run around like a headless chicken trying to find beds.'
BOBBY WILLIAMSON reckons Kevin Thomson is right - the Hibs starlet DID used to run around like a headless chicken.
I saw that we were as high as third in the current standings the other day, but I'm not going to run around like a headless chicken to get a point.
``Sometimes I run around like a headless chicken,'' he said.
But when it rang again at about midnight registered nurse Mr Connolly - in the words of one care assistant - "started to run around like a headless chicken".
``Too many times he is tarred with the same brush, namely that all he can do is run around like a headless chicken,'' said Bowen.