bite off more than one can chew

bite off more than one can chew
bite off more than one can chew
1. Lit. to take a larger mouthful of food than one can chew easily or comfortably. •

I bit off more than I could chew, and nearly choked.

2. Fig. to take (on) more than one can deal with; to be overconfident. •

Ann is exhausted again. She's always biting off more than she can chew.

* * *
{v. phr.}, {informal} To try to do more than you can; be too confident of your ability. * /He bit off more than he could chew when he agreed to edit the paper alone./ * /He started to repair his car himself, but realized that he had bitten off more than he could chew./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • bite off more than one can chew — {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to do more than you can; be too confident of your ability. * /He bit off more than he could chew when he agreed to edit the paper alone./ * /He started to repair his car himself, but realized that he had bitten off… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • bite off more than one can chew — ► bite off more than one can chew take on a commitment one cannot fulfil. Main Entry: ↑bite …   English terms dictionary

  • bite off more than one can chew — phrasal : to undertake more than one can perform * * * bite off more than one can chew 1. To overestimate one s capacities 2. To undertake something one cannot achieve • • • Main Entry: ↑bite * * * take on a commitment one cannot fulfill …   Useful english dictionary

  • bite off more than one can chew — try to do more than one is able to do I think I bit off more than I can chew by taking on the new assignment …   Idioms and examples

  • bite\ off\ more\ than\ one\ can\ chew — v. phr. informal To try to do more than you can; be too confident of your ability. He bit off more than he could chew when he agreed to edit the paper alone. He started to repair his car himself, but realized that he had bitten off more than he… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • bite off more than one can chew — verb To try to do too much; to take on or attempt more than one is capable of doing. I think I bit off more than I could chew when I agreed to paint this house by myself …   Wiktionary

  • bite off more than one can chew — phrasal to undertake more than one can handle …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • bite off more than one can chew — v. take on a bigger task than one is capable of completing …   English contemporary dictionary

  • bite off more than one can chew — take on a commitment one cannot fulfil. → bite …   English new terms dictionary

  • bite off more than one can chew — idi to attempt something that exceeds one s capacity …   From formal English to slang

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