Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
spread-yourself-too-thin
idiom
/sprɛd jʊərˈsɛlf tu θɪn/
Definition
To take on too many responsibilities or tasks at the same time, leading to a lack of focus or effectiveness on any one of them.
Examples
- After taking on extra projects at work, Jenna realized she had spread herself too thin and couldn’t meet her deadlines.
- It’s easy to spread yourself too thin when you want to please everyone, but it’s important to know your limits.
- He learned the hard way about the dangers of spreading yourself too thin when he burned out trying to juggle school, work, and social life.
Meaning
When someone spreads themselves too thin, they try to do many things at once and cannot give enough attention or effort to each task, which can lead to poor performance or stress.
Synonyms
- overextend oneself
- take on too much
- overcommit
