on one's plate
The phrase "on one's plate" is metaphorically derived from having a full plate of food, indicating that one's capacity is already filled with tasks or responsibilities.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2Everyday Conversation
(colloquial, idiomatic)Tasks, responsibilities, or problems that someone needs to handle.
Example
- She has a lot on her plate with work and taking care of her family.
- I can't take on any more projects right now; I've already got too much on my plate.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "on one's plate":
on one's headon the tableon one's mindin one's bookhave one's name onon someone's handsplate outin one's headsmall platein one's sightsat tableon the shelfon one's back