English Help Online's Blog

I think it’s time for another idiom. Today’s expression is “to bite off more than one can chew”. It is used when someone has chosen to do something that is too difficult for them to do, or when they have chosen to do too many things and can’t handle doing all of them. For example:

My sister has signed up for an advanced Spanish course, but she can’t speak Spanish so well. I think she’s bitten off more than she can chew.

Last month I volunteered to work on another project. I’ve totally bitten off more than I can chew.

A: You want to do a double major at university? Don’t you think you might be biting off more than you can chew?

B: No, I’m sure I can handle it.

This is quite a common and useful expression. I hope you find it interesting.