hands full: meaning and explanation
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?
Listening exercises
Dictation #1
Accent: Scotland
About the sentence
...I'd love to help, but...
The phrase I'd love to (verb) but... is useful when you don't want to do something and need to make a polite excuse. e.g:
- Do you want to come over this weekend?
- I'd love to, but I've got loads of work to do.
Dictation #2
Accent: North America
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Dictation #3
Accent: North America
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Extra practice
Here are some questions/links to help you learn the new vocabulary:
- Can you think of a time you couldn't do something because you were too busy (you had your hands full...)
- Have you got your hands full with anything at the moment?
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