snowed under

Meaning

To be overwhelmed, overloaded, or extremely busy with a large amount of work, responsibilities, or messages. It is almost always used in the passive voice ('be snowed under' or 'get snowed under') and is typically followed by the preposition 'with'.

Examples

• I'm sorry I didn't call you back; I've been completely snowed under at work.

  I'm sorry I didn't call you back; I've been completely snowed under at work.

• We are snowed under with customer inquiries after the product launch.

  We are snowed under with customer inquiries after the product launch.

• She's snowed under with schoolwork and can't go out this weekend.

  She's snowed under with schoolwork and can't go out this weekend.

• I can't take on any more projects right now; I'm already snowed under.

  I can't take on any more projects right now; I'm already snowed under.

• The customer service team gets snowed under during the holidays.

  The customer service team gets snowed under during the holidays.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am snowing under with homework.

  ✓ I am snowed under with homework.

  This idiom is passive and uses the past participle 'snowed', not the active '-ing' form.

• ✗ He is snowed under of work.

  ✓ He is snowed under with work.

  The correct preposition to connect 'snowed under' to the source of busyness is 'with', not 'of'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I'd love to help you, but I'm absolutely ___ with emails right now.

  💡 Overwhelmed with too much work.

  Show answer

  snowed under

• Our team got ___ after three people went on sick leave.

  💡 Buried under an excessive amount of tasks.

  Show answer

  snowed under