Phrase guide

have one's hands full

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To be busy or thoroughly preoccupied.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • He already has his hands full with two kids and a full-time job, yet he still makes time to volunteer.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: alle Hände voll zu tun haben — be busy or thoroughly preoccupied
  • Icelandic: hafa nóg á sinni könnu — be busy or thoroughly preoccupied
  • Polish: mieć pełne ręce roboty — be busy or thoroughly preoccupied
  • Portuguese: estar de mãos cheias — be busy or thoroughly preoccupied
  • Romanian: but see foarte ocupat — be busy or thoroughly preoccupied
  • Scots: hae ane's ain tae dae — be busy or thoroughly preoccupied
  • Swedish: ha händerna fulla — be busy or thoroughly preoccupied