someone's only got one pair of hands
(one's) only got one pair of hands
There is a limited amount of things one can do at once, so do not make unreasonable demands or have unrealistic expectations. You'll have to wait until I'm finished cooking dinner before I can come help you—I've only got one pair of hands! She's only got one pair of hands, so I don't know how she'll get that all done before the deadline.
See also: hand, of, one, pair
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
someone's only got one pair of hands
People say that someone's only got one pair of hands to mean that there is a limit to the number of things they can do at the same time and they should not be expected to do more than is reasonable. They've only got one pair of hands, and there's so much to do. Just wait a minute, will you — I've only got one pair of hands.
See also: hand, of, one, pair
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- (one) only has one pair of hands
- (one's) only got one pair of hands
- I only have one pair of hands
- I've only got one pair of hands
- be in a dream world
- cry/ask for the moon
- ask for the moon
- what did your last slave die of
- delusion
- delusions of grandeur