up to one's neck in alligators

English dictionary entry

Meanings

phrase
  1. Extremely busy; having many pressing obligations, distractions, etc., consuming one's time.

Word forms

up to one's neck in alligators

Etymology

An expressive image, derived from the proverb "when you're up to your neck in alligators, it's hard to remember that your initial objective was to drain the swamp".

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