English

Adjective

on one's hands

1. (idiomatic) Being one's liability or responsibility; with which one is lumbered.
   • 1986, Romain Gary, Ralph Manheim, The life before us

     When I started yelling, the other kids started yelling, so Madame Rosa had seven kids on her hands, all bellowing for their mothers...

   • 1990, Kazuo Ishiguro, The remains of the day

     It is most curious to see that you have so much time on your hands that you are able to simply wander about this house bothering others...

See also

• on hand