Estar hasta las manos
/es-TAR AS-tah las MAH-nohs/
To be extremely busy, swamped with work, or deeply involved in a complicated situation.
💡 Understanding the Idiom
🎨 Literal vs. Figurative
Literally, this means 'to be up to the hands' in something.
In reality, it means you're completely swamped with work or deeply involved in a problem.
Key Words in This Idiom:
📝 In Action
No puedo ir al cine, estoy hasta las manos con la mudanza.
B2I can't go to the movies, I'm swamped with the move.
Mi jefe me pidió otro informe. ¡Ya estoy hasta las manos!
B2My boss asked me for another report. I'm already up to my eyeballs!
Intentó ayudar a su amigo a salir de una deuda y ahora él también está hasta las manos.
C1He tried to help his friend get out of debt and now he's in deep too.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom paints a very clear picture. Imagine being stuck in quicksand or mud so deep that only your hands are sticking out—you're completely submerged and helpless. The phrase transfers this powerful visual of being physically overwhelmed to situations involving work, tasks, or problems. It's a physical metaphor for being mentally or situationally 'drowning' in something.
⭐ Usage Tips
For Work or For Trouble
You can use 'estar hasta las manos' in two main ways. The most common is to say you're swamped with work or chores. The second, slightly more serious use, is to say someone is deeply involved in a complicated or bad situation, like a financial problem or a messy relationship.
Use with 'con' or 'en'
To specify what you're busy with, you'll usually add 'con' (with) for tasks or 'en' (in) for situations. For example, 'Estoy hasta las manos con el proyecto' (I'm swamped with the project) or 'Está hasta las manos en problemas' (He's deep in trouble).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Not for Physical Actions
Mistake: "Using this phrase to describe literally having your hands full, like carrying groceries."
Correction: This expression is purely figurative. If you are literally carrying many things, you would say 'Tengo las manos ocupadas' or 'Tengo las manos llenas'.
🌎 Where It's Used
Latin America
Extremely common and widely used, especially in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Mexico. It's one of the most standard ways to say you're swamped.
Spain
It is understood, but other expressions like 'estar hasta arriba' (to be full up to the top) or 'estar hasta el cuello' (to be up to the neck) are generally more common for expressing the same idea.
🔗 Related Idioms
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Estar hasta las manos
Question 1 of 1
If your friend says, 'No puedo hablar ahora, estoy hasta las manos', what do they mean?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'estar hasta las manos' a formal or informal expression?
It's definitely informal. You would use it with colleagues you have a good relationship with, friends, and family. In a very formal business presentation, you might choose a more neutral phrase like 'tenemos una gran carga de trabajo' (we have a large workload).