Bite off more than you can chew.
Bite off more than you can chew.
To "Bite off more than you can chew" means to take on a task that is too complex or large to manage. This idiom is a vivid metaphor that likens taking on too many responsibilities to biting a large chunk of food that cannot be easily chewed or swallowed. It serves as a cautionary phrase to avoid overcommitting oneself.
He bit off more than he could chew by taking on that huge project alone.
He took on too much work by trying to handle the big project on his own.
Joining three clubs in addition to a full course load means Sarah might have bitten off more than she can chew.
Sarah might be overwhelmed with the added club activities and full course load.
Trying to manage the new client's expectations on top of his regular workload was like biting off more than he could chew.
Managing the new client's expectations along with his usual tasks was too much for him to handle effectively.