Idioms & Expressions
Bite off more than you can chew
Used when advising someone against taking on excessive commitments.
Literal Meaning
To bite off a quantity of food that exceeds the capacity of one's mouth to chew it comfortably.
Actual Meaning
Taking on more responsibility than you can handle
Examples in Context

'You've bitten off more than you can chew with this project.' (Translation: You've taken on too much)

Helpful Tips
  • 1Warning or observation
  • 2About overcommitment
  • 3Often said after the fact
Phrase Thesaurus
Similar words and synonyms for this phrase
overextend
overcommit
take on too much
stretch oneself too thin
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