手忙脚乱
shǒu máng jiǎo luàn
Frantic hurried state · trad. 手忙腳亂
Describes a state of being extremely busy and disorganized, often to the point of confusion or inefficiency. People find themselves in this state when overwhelmed by too many tasks or a sudden rush of activity.
What does 手忙脚乱 (shǒu máng jiǎo luàn) mean?
手忙脚乱 (shǒu máng jiǎo luàn) means "frantic hurried state" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "hands busy feet chaotic."
Character by character
- 手 shǒu hand
- 忙 máng busy, hurried
- 脚 jiǎo foot
- 乱 luàn chaotic, disordered
When to use it
Commonly used to depict a person or a group struggling to manage multiple things simultaneously, leading to a lack of order. It implies a sense of disarray rather than just hard work.
Example
店里的生意非常红火,老板忙得手忙脚乱。
Diànli de shēngyi fēicháng hónghuǒ, lǎobǎn máng de shǒu máng jiǎo luàn.
The shop's business was booming, and the owner was so busy he was completely flustered.
Pro tip: Focuses on the disorganization and confusion that results from being too busy, not just the act of being busy itself. It highlights the chaotic aspect.
Related idioms
实事求是 · Seeking truth from facts受宠若惊 · Feeling overwhelmed by favor随心所欲 · Doing as one pleases
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