have a lot on your plate
Meaning
To have many responsibilities or tasks to deal with; to be very busy or under pressure.
Origin
A metaphor from mealtime: a plate piled with food suggests you have a lot to handle. It spread in modern English as a vivid way to describe being overloaded with tasks or responsibilities.
Notes
Common, conversational way to say you’re overloaded with tasks/responsibilities. Used for work or personal life; often signals you can’t take on more.
Examples
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I can’t take on another project right now—I already have a lot on my plate.
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She’s had a lot on her plate since she started her new job and moved apartments.
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If you have a lot on your plate, it’s okay to say no to extra meetings.
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He looks stressed because he has a lot on his plate with the kids and deadlines.
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We all have a lot on our plates this quarter, so let’s prioritize the most urgent tasks.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as: have/has/had a lot on (my/your/his/her/our/their) plate. Article is typically fixed as “a lot,” and “on your plate” can take different possessive determiners. Often used with “right now/at the moment.”
Synonyms
- be swamped
- have a lot to deal with
- have a lot on your hands
- be overloaded
- be up to your ears (in work)
Antonyms
- have plenty of time
- have nothing on your plate
- be free
- be at leisure