Have a lot on my plate
| Feifei: | This is a great restaurant, Finn. I'm glad we could finally come here and try out their new menu. |
| Finn: | It is a good restaurant, Feifei. But, well, I haven't been able to relax and enjoy a nice meal in the last few weeks. |
| Feifei: | Really? |
| Finn: | Yes, well, I'm moving home soon ... |
| Feifei: | Oh, I know how difficult it is to find a new flat. |
| Finn: | Yes. And my grandmother has been complaining that I don't visit her in Scotland very often ... |
| Feifei: | Yes, our elders like us to visit every now and again. |
| Finn: | And this new project at work ... |
| Feifei: | I've noticed that you have been working late ... |
| Finn: | I simply have too much on my plate right now! |
| Feifei: | Oh, if you have too much on your plate, can I help you? |
| Finn: | Yes, well, that would be nice ... |
| Feifei: | Leave it to me. Let me take some of this lovely looking chicken from you. Mmm ... this is very tasty ... |
| Finn: | Feifei, what are you doing?! You're taking food from my plate?! |
| Feifei: | Mmm ... I must find out how they cook this chicken. It tastes so good! |
| Finn: | Feifei, I didn't mean for you to take food from my plate. In English, when you say you 'have a lot on your plate' or 'too much on your plate', you mean you have a lot of work to do or a lot of problems to deal with. |
| Feifei: | Problems?! That's not good. |
| Finn: | Yes. Well, it's not about food, but about work and problems. 'Have a lot on my plate' is today's expression in The English We Speak. Let's hear some examples of how it's used. |
| Ann has a lot on her plate at the moment. She's just had twins! | |
| Sorry, but the manager can't speak to you today. The company is launching new products next week and she's got too much on her plate right now. | |
| Feifei: | Oh, so this expression has nothing to do with this delicious food you have on your plate. |
| Finn: | Come on, Feifei. You knew this expression already—you just wanted to pinch my chicken! |
| Feifei: | OK, OK, guilty as charged! This chicken looks so appetising ... and these potatoes and ... |
| Finn: | Feifei, I can share them with you. |
| Feifei: | Oh thank you, Finn. And you can share the workload, too. I can help you with your new project so you'll have time to go and visit your granny. |
| Finn: | Feifei, I'm very grateful. Here, have some more potatoes. And ... I like the look of that carrot mash you have on your plate. |
| Feifei: | Here, have some ... this food is lovely! We'll have clean plates in no time at all. Bye. |
| Finn: | Bye. |