Learning English

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Introduction

An expression meaning you’re very busy with something stressful or time-consuming. Learn it here.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them as well. I'm Feifei, and I’m here with Beth, who’s looking a bit stressed. Are you OK?

Beth
Hi Feifei. Sorry, my in-laws are coming this weekend and I’ve been up to my eyes in housework. And now I’ve come to work and I’m up to my eyes in emails. I haven’t even had lunch!

Feifei
Oh no! You poor thing. It’s not good to be up to your eyes in housework or emails, although ‘up to your eyes in’ is a useful phrase. It means you are very busy – completely surrounded by something that takes a long time or is stressful.

Beth
Yes. It means you’ve got so much to do that it’s too much for you – it’s overwhelming. We can use ‘up to your eyes in’ for work, chores, problems or anything that you are extremely busy with.

Feifei
I know. I'm up to my eyes in holiday preparation. There is so much to do and pack.

Beth
But holidays are always fun.

Feifei
That's true. It will be worth it. Let's hear some more examples of 'up to your eyes in'.

Examples
My washing machine is broken at the moment, so I'm up to my eyes in laundry.

I've got so many exams coming up – maths, English, history. I'm up to my eyes in revision.

I need to organise to catch up with all my friends. I've been so bad at replying to messages recently – I'm just up to my eyes in it.

Beth
So, if you’re ‘up to your eyes in’ something, you’re extremely busy with something that’s stressful or time-consuming.

Feifei
We follow the phrase with a noun, so you could say ‘I’m up to eyes in housework’ or I could say ‘I’m up to my eyes in holiday preparation’.

Beth
That's right. And it's quite a visual phrase. Imagine Feifei piling up all the family's clothes for holiday, all the way from the floor to her eyes. Feifei, that is a lot to do!

Feifei
I know. Right, I think we need to go. We have too much to do! We'll be back next time with another useful English phrase. See you soon!

Beth
Bye!

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