Busy as a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest

Meaning

Extremely busy or struggling to keep up with hectic demands.

Usage

Used when a person is juggling too many tasks.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Southern US folk humor that stacks absurdity to describe frantic effort.

Heard in rural speech recordings from the mid-1900s and kept alive by storytellers.