Mastering the Idiom: Bite off More Than You Can Chew

Meaning: To take on a task or responsibility that is too big or difficult to manage effectively. Often, it involves overcommitting yourself and then struggling to keep up.

Origin: The idiom 'Bite off more than you can chew' is believed to have originated in the late 19th century in America. It likely comes from the literal action of taking too large a bite of food, which then becomes difficult to chew and swallow. This literal sense was then applied metaphorically to situations where people take on more than they can handle.

Examples

Taking on three major projects simultaneously might mean you've bitten off more than you can chew.
She thought managing both her full-time job and a side business would be easy, but she soon realized she'd bitten off more than she could chew.
When he volunteered to organize the entire conference by himself, he definitely bit off more than he could chew.
Agreeing to host the family reunion and renovate the house at the same time proved to be biting off more than they could chew.
By promising to finish the book in a week, the author bit off more than she could chew and had to ask for an extension.
The new manager bit off more than he could chew by trying to reform the entire department in his first month.
Signing up for advanced courses while still struggling with the basics made him realize he had bitten off more than he could chew.
She bit off more than she could chew by committing to the marathon without proper training.
Juggling a demanding career and caring for a newborn made him understand he had bitten off more than he could chew.
He bit off more than he could chew by agreeing to lead multiple community projects simultaneously, leaving him overwhelmed.