Phrase guide

snowed under

adj · verb · 2 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

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Having a lot of things to do, usually work-related; tied up.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • We are completely snowed under at work because it is the end of the tax year.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

simple past and past participle of snow under

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, participle, past

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: de bòlit — having a lot of things to do
  • Chinese Mandarin: 忙得不可開交 /忙得不可开交 (máng de bùkěkāijiāo) — having a lot of things to do
  • Finnish: tukossa — having a lot of things to do
  • French: débordé — having a lot of things to do
  • Māori: kei raro e putu ana — having a lot of things to do