snowed under with work

USAGE SUMMARY

'snowed under with work' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe someone who is overwhelmed with a significant amount of work. For example, "I'm snowed under with work this week, so I don't think I'll be able to make it to the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Add to that a slew of cases relating to libel and press freedoms and it is easy to envision the Icelandic courts becoming positively, er, snowed under with work.

The Guardian - Opinion

For many smaller businesses, hosting a Christmas celebration isn't just about lack of numbers or financial pressures, it's also about being snowed under with work, such as Stockport-based picture framers Lazy Daisies.

The Guardian

He wasn't snowed under with work because I thought the game was quite even for large periods - but when he had to, he made saves".

BBC

Take photos of whatever you've created, write a very simple email message with lots of hugs and send it to cheer up someone who is snowed under with work or problems.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

You must be snowed under with tweets from the Megatrons.

The Guardian - Music

"I'm snowed under with rhubarb, whatever kind of year it is".

The New Yorker

Farrall promises to translate four more but says she is currently snowed under with edits of her dissertation.

The New Yorker

They should strike now, while the BGT panel is still in the early rounds, snowed under with 5,000 dancing Alsatians.

The Guardian - Opinion

I was snowed under with requests to become a friend on Facebook, even from people I did not know.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

No wonder I feel inundated and snowed under with too much information.

Huffington Post

At times some felt they were "snowed under with the acute stuff before you even get to the chronic stuff".

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "snowed under with work" to concisely convey being overwhelmed by a large volume of tasks. This idiom is suitable for both informal and semi-formal communication, providing a vivid and relatable image of a heavy workload.

Common error

Avoid overusing the phrase or using it in overly formal contexts where a more direct description of workload might be preferable. While generally acceptable, consider your audience and the overall tone you wish to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "snowed under with work" functions as an idiomatic expression. As Ludwig AI explains, it is used to describe someone overwhelmed by a significant amount of work. The phrase acts as a descriptor, indicating a state of being burdened.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "snowed under with work" is an idiomatic expression used to describe a state of being overwhelmed by a large amount of work. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media and wiki contexts, and while generally neutral in register, it is advisable to use more direct language in formal or scientific writing. Related phrases include "overwhelmed with work" and "swamped with work", which offer similar meanings. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the context and audience to effectively convey the intended message of being very busy and burdened with tasks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overwhelmed with work

This alternative directly replaces the idiomatic "snowed under" with a more literal descriptor, keeping the rest of the phrase intact.

swamped with work

This alternative uses a different metaphor, "swamped", to suggest being overwhelmed, maintaining a similar level of intensity.

buried in work

This alternative uses the metaphor "buried" to convey being overwhelmed, similar to "snowed under".

bogged down with work

This phrase uses "bogged down" to express being slowed or burdened by a large amount of work, indicating a slight shift in emphasis to the hindering aspect.

inundated with work

This alternative uses "inundated" which suggests being flooded or overwhelmed with a large quantity of work.

up to my neck in work

This is a more informal idiom that suggests being deeply involved and overwhelmed with work.

overloaded with work

This alternative directly describes the state of having too much work.

struggling with a heavy workload

This option shifts the focus to the difficulty of managing a large amount of work.

under a mountain of work

This alternative uses the metaphor "under a mountain" to convey being overwhelmed by a large amount of work.

consumed by work

This alternative emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of the work, suggesting that it occupies a significant amount of time and energy.

FAQs

How can I use "snowed under with work" in a sentence?

You can use "snowed under with work" to describe a situation where you have too much work to handle. For example, "I'm "snowed under with work" this week and can't take on any new projects."

What's a more formal alternative to "snowed under with work"?

For a more formal setting, you could say "overwhelmed with work" or "experiencing a high workload". These options are less idiomatic and more direct.

Is it correct to say "snowed under by work" instead of "snowed under with work"?

While "snowed under by work" is understandable, ""snowed under with work"" is the more common and accepted idiomatic expression.

What does "snowed under with work" imply about my ability to manage tasks?

Using "snowed under with work" suggests that you are currently facing a challenging volume of work, implying that you may be struggling to keep up. It doesn't necessarily reflect on your overall ability, but rather on the current situation.