too many irons in the fire

Cultural  

1. To have “too many irons in the fire” is to be engaged in too many activities: “Gomez turned down the consulting job; he felt that he already had too many irons in the fire.”

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Example Sentences

Strike while you’ve got too many irons in the fire.

From The New Yorker • Sep. 2, 2019

Suspect our Northern friends have too many irons in the fire, none of which are hot.

From Time Magazine Archive

Doctor Beecher was wary—all he would say was, "I have too many irons in the fire now!"

From Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Volume 7 Little Journeys to the Homes of Eminent Orators by Hubbard, Elbert

They usually betoken the too busy man—the man with too many irons in the fire.

From The Apple by Various

The great trouble is that he has too many irons in the fire.

From Abroad at Home American Ramblings, Observations, and Adventures of Julian Street by Street, Julian