应接不暇 (yīng) — overwhelmed by more than one can handle (especially visitors, tasks, or demands)
Definition
A set idiom meaning there is more to deal with than one can manage — usually people, tasks, or requests coming in faster than you can respond. Typically describes being overwhelmed at the moment, not a permanent state.
idiom
overwhelmed by more than one can handle (especially visitors, tasks, or demands)
Examples
- ，应接不暇。Lǚ yóu wàng jì de shí hou, dǎo yóu men máng dé yīng.During peak tourist season, the tour guides are so busy they can't keep up.
- ，，应接不暇。Xīn diàn kāi zhāng dì yī tiān, gù kè tài duō, fú wù yuán yīng.On the first day of the new store opening, there were so many customers that the staff couldn't handle them all.
- ，应接不暇。Tā yí gè rén yào chǔ lǐ zhè me duō wén jiàn, zhēn shì yīng.He has to handle so many documents all by himself — it's really overwhelming.
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