Hands full

Idioms | B2

Listening exercises with “Hands full”

to have your hands full = to be very busy with something, meaning you don’t have time to do anything else.

We can say that you have your hands full with something or doing something. e.g. I’ve got my hands full with the children/looking after the children.

This idiom is useful when making an excuse – you can’t do something because you’re too busy with something else. e.g. I wish I could come with you, but I’ve got my hands full looking after my nieces and nephews this weekend.

Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?

Accent: Scotland