We all lead busy lives and sometimes it feels like we’re never going to get off that treadmill¹. In English, there are many idiomatic² expressions to express this “busyness”.

我们都过着繁忙的生活，有时感觉仿佛永远无法停下来。英语中有很多习惯用语用于表达这种”繁忙“。

I know that some colleagues in the ELT community question whether we should teach idioms to our learners, especially as there are more non-native speakers than native speakers of English in the world. I, for one, think that idiomatic expressions give colour to a language and even if the learner might never use these expressions or be expected to use them, they are very likely to come across them when reading or listening to native speakers. So, an awareness³ of them is vital if they are to understand what they’re reading or listening to.

我知道有些英语教学社区会就是否应该教授学习者习语而有疑问，尤其是在世界各地说英语的人中非母语人士远多于母语人士。而我，作为其中一员，认为习语会为语言增添色彩，即使学习者可能从不用它或被期望使用它们，但是当他们阅读英文原版文章或听母语为英语的人说话时就会很容易碰到这些习语。因此，习语的学习在这个时候就尤为关键了。

Back to busy lives. In this post I’d like to share 8 idioms that are often used to describe a busy working life.The examples I’ve used are business-related.

话题回到繁忙生活。本文我打算跟大家分享8个用于描述繁忙工作生活的习语。例句中为商务场合用法。

1. All hands on deck⁴

1. 全员各就各位

When there’s a lot of work to be done and everyone needs to be involved.

当有很多工作需要做时，所有人都要加入。

As the opening day approached, it was all hands on deck to get everything ready in time.

由于开业时间迫在眉睫，所有人员必须各就各位，及时做好各方面准备。

2. Hive of activity

2. 一片繁忙的景象

A place where there are a lot of things happening and everyone is busy.

指某处正在发生大量的事，每个人都很忙。

When I arrived at the office, the place was already a hive of activity with everyone buzzing⁵ around.

当我到达时，办公室里已经一片热火朝天的景象，每个人都在忙的团团转。

3. Rushed off your feet

3. 忙的不可开交

You are so busy that you don’t have time to stop.

你太忙了以至于完全停不下来。

I am exhausted⁶. I’ve been rushed off my feet all day at the shop.

我感到筋疲力尽。我在店里的一整天都是忙的脚打后脑勺。

4. Work your fingers to the bone

4. 拼命地做，非常努力

To work very hard or to be extremely hardworking.

工作努力或努力到极致。

He deserves⁷ his success. He worked his fingers to the bone when he started the business.

他的成功归功于他自己。刚开始创业时他工作非常努力。

5. Roll up your sleeves

5. 卷起袖子准备大干一场

Get ready for hard work.

准备好努力工作。

If we’re going to increase our market share, we’re going to have to roll our sleeves and get new customers.

如果我们想要增加市场份额，我就需要撸起袖子大干一场，获得新的客户。

6. Have your work cut out

6. 按时完成艰巨的任务

Have a difficult or challenging task or problem to deal with.

有困难的或挑战性的或问题需要处理应对。

They have their work cut out with that client⁸. He is incredibly demanding.

关于那个客户他们有一大堆工作要做。他要求太苛刻了。

7. A race against time

7. 和时间赛跑

Working towards a deadline.

在时间截点前干工作。

I have so many deadlines. It’s a never-ending race against time to meet them.

我有这么多任务截点。要在规定时间内完成简直就是和时间赛跑。

8. Hit the ground running

8. 立即快马加鞭地开展重要工作

Start an activity immediately and with energy.

全力以赴马上开展活动。

He intends to hit the ground running if and when he wins that contract.

一旦他赢得了那份合同，他就打算马上全力以赴开展工作。