alle Hände voll zu tun haben
to have one's hands full; to be very busy
Origin
The image of "full hands" stands for being fully occupied: someone whose hands are both filled with work can take on nothing else. A specific historical source is not established.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Subordinate clause with 'wenn' (if/when, temporal/conditional)Nebensatz mit 'wenn' (temporal/konditional)
- Adjective declension after the indefinite article (nom./acc.)Adjektivdeklination nach unbestimmtem Artikel (Nom./Akk.)
- Temporal preposition 'während' (during, + genitive)Temporale Präposition 'während' (+ Genitiv)
- Past perfect (Plusquamperfekt)Plusquamperfekt
- Two-way prepositions with accusative (Wohin? / where to)Wechselpräpositionen mit Akkusativ (Wohin?)
- Temporal preposition 'vor' (before, + dative)Temporale Präposition 'vor' (+ Dativ)
Examples
Vor den Feiertagen hat das Hände zu .
Before the holidays the staff have their hands full.