What it means
Means you’ve taken on a job, promise, or problem that’s bigger than your time, skills, or energy. Picture trying to chomp a massive mouthful and realising you can’t even chew, let alone swallow. It’s usually said as a gentle warning or a bit of told-you-so when someone overcommits and starts flapping.
Usage examples
"I said I'd run the school fête, cover Dave's shift, and fix Nan's laptop by Friday. Now I'm drowning, proper bit off more than I can chew."
"Renovating the whole house in a month, he had bitten off more than he could chew."
"Do not bite off more than you can chew, take on one project at a time."
Where it comes from
A homely image straight from the dinner table: cram too big a mouthful in and you simply cannot chew it. To bite off more than you can chew is to take on a task, a promise or a commitment far bigger than you can actually manage, leaving you struggling to cope with the lot. A warning against overreaching, with your eyes bigger than your capacity.
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