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How to say "Being extremely busy / having no free time" in English

Some days, you barely have time to breathe, let alone relax. You want a phrase that says it all in a flash.

swamped

adjectiveinformal

This is what people actually say when they're buried in work or life. It's quick, vivid, and a little dramatic.

A: Want to grab coffee this week?

B: I wish! I'm totally swamped right now.

Also worth knowing

slammed informal
when work hits all at once
up to my ears (in work) informal
when you want to exaggerate
no time to breathe informal
to sound extra dramatic

Skip: "I am very busy" — It's textbook English. You’ll sound stiff and distant.

If you learn one, make it swamped. It’s what busy people actually say.

Practice saying these out loud →