How do you use "Bite off more than you can chew" in a sentence?

I think I bit off more than I could chew by taking five classes this semester. Don't bite off more than you can chew — start with one project at a time. The startup bit off more than it could chew by expanding to three countries at once.

Bite off more than you can chew

American Slang Term American ★★★★★ Very Common informal

Practice this with flashcards, quizzes & audio on WordLoci →

Meaning: To take on more responsibility or work than you can handle.

承担超出自己能力范围的责任或工作。贪多嚼不烂。

Asumir más responsabilidades o trabajo del que se puede manejar.

自分が対処できる以上の責任や仕事を引き受けること。

자신이 감당할 수 있는 것 이상의 책임이나 일을 떠맡는 것.

Used when someone overcommits — volunteering for too many projects, making promises they can't keep, or starting something beyond their capabilities. It's usually recognized after the fact, when the person realizes they're overwhelmed.

用于描述某人过度承诺——志愿承担太多项目、做出无法兑现的承诺，或开始超出自己能力的事情。通常是事后才意识到的，当事人发现自己已经不堪重负。

Se usa cuando alguien se compromete en exceso: ofrecerse voluntario para demasiados proyectos, hacer promesas que no puede cumplir o emprender algo que supera sus capacidades. Normalmente se reconoce a posteriori, cuando la persona se da cuenta de que está desbordada.

引き受けすぎた時に使う——プロジェクトを抱えすぎたり、守れない約束をしたり、自分の能力を超えたことを始めたり。大抵、手一杯になってから気づくことが多い。

누군가가 지나치게 많은 것을 떠맡았을 때 사용한다. 너무 많은 프로젝트에 자원하거나, 지킬 수 없는 약속을 하거나, 자신의 능력을 넘어서는 일을 시작하는 경우를 말한다. 보통 이미 압도당한 후에야 깨닫게 된다.

Examples

I think I bit off more than I could chew by taking five classes this semester.
这学期选了五门课，我觉得自己贪多嚼不烂了。
Creo que abarcé más de lo que podía al matricularme en cinco asignaturas este semestre.
今学期5科目も取って、ちょっと無理しすぎたかもしれない。
이번 학기에 5과목이나 들으면서 좀 무리했나 봐.
Don't bite off more than you can chew — start with one project at a time.
别贪多嚼不烂——先从一个项目做起吧。
No intentes abarcar más de lo que puedes: empieza con un proyecto a la vez.
無理しすぎないで——まずは一つのプロジェクトから始めなよ。
무리하지 마—일단 프로젝트 하나부터 시작해.
The startup bit off more than it could chew by expanding to three countries at once.
那家初创公司一下子扩张到三个国家，明显是摊子铺得太大了。
La startup abarcó más de lo que podía al expandirse a tres países a la vez.
そのスタートアップは一度に3カ国に展開して、明らかに手を広げすぎた。
그 스타트업은 한꺼번에 3개국에 진출하면서 확실히 욕심을 부렸다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: advice, overcommitment, workplace

Tone: cautionary, self-aware

✓ Do Say

I bit off more than I could chew.
I bit off more than I could chew.
Abarcé más de lo que podía.
ちょっと無理しすぎちゃった。
좀 무리했어.
Don't bite off more than you can chew.
Don't bite off more than you can chew.
No abarques más de lo que puedas.
無理しすぎないようにね。
무리하지 마.

✗ Don't Say

Using it to discourage someone from being ambitious can feel discouraging — it's best for genuine overcommitment
用它来打击别人的雄心会让人泄气——最好用于真正过度承诺的情况
Usarlo para desanimar a alguien ambicioso puede resultar desmotivador: es mejor reservarlo para casos de compromiso excesivo real
野心的な挑戦を思いとどまらせるために使うのはやる気を削ぐ——本当に引き受けすぎている場合に使うべき
누군가의 도전 의지를 꺾는 데 사용하면 의욕을 떨어뜨릴 수 있다—진짜로 무리한 경우에 쓰는 것이 좋다

Origin & History

From the American practice of chewing tobacco. Taking too large a bite of plug tobacco would make it impossible to chew. The figurative meaning became common in American English in the late 1800s as a warning against overambition.

Cultural Context

Era: 1800s-present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal