Key takeaways
- Mark has a new project, his regular work and an evening class. His friend Anna tells him to talk to his boss.
- Have too much on my plate = have too many things to do. Get in over my head = take on something too difficult to handle.
- You’ll also learn lead (be in charge of a project or team) and polite ways to ask for help at work.
- A beginner-friendly lesson (A2–B1) with listening, vocabulary, repeat, answer and shadowing parts.
When was the last time you felt like there was simply too much to do? Work, family, classes, messages… and someone asks you to do one more thing. In your language you probably have a quick, natural way to say “I’m overloaded.” But what do you say in English?
“I am very busy” is correct, but it doesn’t really show how you feel. Native speakers often use pictures instead: they say they have too much on their plate, or that they are in over their head. In this lesson you’ll hear both expressions in a real, everyday situation, and you’ll practise using them yourself.
Watch the Lesson
Lesson map: listening (01:08), vocabulary (02:38), listen and repeat (04:24), speaking practice (09:39), shadowing (14:36). In the vocabulary part you’ll also hear short movie clips with the same expressions, so you can hear how real people say them.
The Conversation: Mark Has Too Much to Do
- Anna: You look tired. Mark, are you okay?
- Mark: Honestly, not really. I have too much on my plate right now.
- Anna: Oh no, what’s going on?
- Mark: My boss asked me to lead a new project. I also have my regular work, and I’m taking an evening class.
- Anna: That sounds like a lot.
- Mark: It is. I said yes to the project, but now I feel like I’m getting in over my head.
- Anna: Have you told your boss how you feel?
- Mark: Not yet. I don’t want him to think I can’t do my job.
- Anna: I understand, but it’s better to talk to him now. He can give you more time or some help.
- Mark: You’re right. I’ll talk to him tomorrow morning.
- Anna: Good idea. And don’t forget to take a break. Do you want to get some coffee?
- Mark: Yes, please. That sounds perfect. Thanks, Anna.
The Expressions, Explained Simply
Have too much on my plate
Imagine a dinner plate so full that food is falling off. That’s the picture. It means you have too many things to do or too many problems to deal with. I have too much on my plate this week. She has too much on her plate at work.
You can also say I have a lot on my plate (a lot, but maybe still okay) or I have so much on my plate. Remember to change the pronoun: my plate, your plate, her plate, our plate.
Lead
To be the main person in charge of a group, project or activity. Tom leads a small team at work. My boss asked me to lead the meeting. The past form is led: She led the project last year.
Get in over my head
Think of swimming in water that is deeper than you are tall. You can’t touch the bottom anymore. It means you’ve taken on a task or problem that is too difficult to handle. I took on too much work and got in over my head.
Two forms are common: get in over your head (it’s happening) and be in over your head (it has already happened). I think I’m in over my head.
Quick question for you: what do you have on your plate this week? Write one sentence in the comments. For example: I have a lot on my plate this week because of my exams.
How to Ask for Help at Work (Without Sounding Weak)
Mark’s problem is very common. He doesn’t want his boss to think he can’t do his job, so he stays quiet. Anna’s advice is good in any language: talk early. Here are some simple, professional sentences you can use:
- I have quite a lot on my plate at the moment. Could we talk about priorities?
- I’m happy to lead the project, but I may need some help with my regular tasks.
- Would it be possible to have a little more time for this?
- I want to do this well, so I’d like to be honest about my workload.
Notice how “I want to do this well” changes the message. You’re not saying “I can’t.” You’re saying “I care about quality.” That’s a useful trick in English and at work in general.
Want more work-related English? Our lesson on preparing for a job interview uses similar language, and talking about your ambitions is great practice for the other side of the story: what you want to achieve.
Practise Step by Step
The listen-and-answer part has questions like “Why did Mark feel like he was getting in over his head?” and “What did Anna offer Mark at the end?” Try to answer before you hear the answer. If you can answer with the new expression (“He had too much on his plate”), even better.
In the shadowing part, read Mark’s lines with the speaker. Pay attention to how “Honestly, not really” sounds tired and a bit sad. Copying the feeling, not just the words, is what makes your English sound natural.
Expressions like these are easier to remember as complete chunks than as single words. If you want to know why, read Learn Phrases, Not Words.
More Practice
Do you have too much on your plate to search for good lessons every day? The Shadowing English Speaking Course gives you 60 ready-made conversation lessons as MP3 audio and PDF text. Try a free sample lesson first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “I have too much on my plate” mean?
It means you have too many things to do or too many problems to deal with right now. It’s common in both work and personal situations.
What does “in over my head” mean?
It means a task or situation is too difficult for you to handle. “I agreed to organise the event, but now I’m in over my head.”
Is “too much on my plate” formal or informal?
It is neutral. You can use it with friends and also with your boss or colleagues. In very formal writing, use “I have a heavy workload.”
What is the past tense of “lead”?
“Led” (pronounced like the colour “red” with an L). “She led the meeting yesterday.”
