busy if you are busy, you have a lot of things you need to do:
Sorry I haven’t called you, but I’ve been really busy. a busy housewife Angela was becoming more and more unhappy, but her husband was too busy to notice. Not now Stephen, I’m busy. Alex is busy studying for his exams.rushed/run off your feet [not before noun] especially British English spoken very busy and in a hurry, because you have too many things to do:
We’ve been absolutely rushed off our feet getting ready for our son’s birthday party.snowed under [not before noun] especially British English so busy that you can hardly deal with all the work you have to do:
I can’t stop for lunch today – I’m completely snowed under. We’ve been snowed under with applications for the job.up to your ears/neck in something [not before noun] informal extremely busy because you have a lot of work to deal with:
Teachers say they are up to their ears in paperwork and don’t have enough time for teaching.tied up [not before noun] busy in your job, so that you cannot do anything else:
I’m sorry, but he’s tied up at the moment. Could you call back later? I can’t see you tomorrow: I’m tied up all day.have a lot to do especially spoken to have to do a lot of things, so that you need to hurry or work hard:
Let’s get started – we have a lot to do.have a lot on British English,
have a lot going on American English especially spoken to be busy, especially because you have arranged to do a lot of things during a particular period:
I’ve got a lot on this weekend. He says he’ll try and see you as soon as possible, but he has a lot going on this afternoon.hectic a hectic time or situation is extremely busy, so that you are always in a hurry and often feel excited or worried:
It was really hectic at work today. The band had a hectic recording schedule.the rush hour the time in the morning and evening when a lot of people are travelling to or from work:
The buses are so crowded during the rush hour you never get a seat. In most British cities the rush hour does not start until about 8 o'clock. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲