busy
adjective /ˈbɪzi/
/ˈbɪzi/
(comparative busier, superlative busiest)
Idioms - having a lot to do; perhaps not free to do something else because you are working on something
- Are you busy tonight?
- I'm afraid the doctor is busy at the moment. Can he call you back?
- The principal is a very busy woman.
- I'll be too busy to come to the meeting.
- She was always too busy to listen.
- I've got enough work to keep you busy.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- with
- giving all your attention and effort to a particular activity
- busy doing something James is busy practising for the school concert.
- They were busy enjoying themselves at the party.
- busy with something/somebody Kate's busy with her homework.
- Let's get busy with the clearing up.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- with
- full of work and activity
- Have you had a busy day?
- I have a very busy schedule.
- This is one of the busiest times of the year for the department.
- We've got a busy week ahead of us.
- We had a busy weekend lined up.
- a very busy life
- Things are getting really busy now.
- full of people, activity, vehicles, etc.
- a busy road/street
- The place gets very busy at lunchtimes.
- We have to cross a busy main road to get to school.
- Victoria is one of London's busiest stations.
- (especially North American English) being used synonym engaged
- The line is busy—I'll try again later.
- the busy signal
Collocations PhonesPhonesMaking and receiving phone calls- the phone/telephone rings
- answer/pick up/hang up the phone/telephone
- lift/pick up/hold/replace the receiver
- dial a (phone/extension/wrong) number/an area code
- call somebody/talk (to somebody)/speak (to somebody) on the phone/telephone; from home/work/the office
- make/get/receive a phone call
- take the phone off the hook (= remove the receiver so that the phone does not ring)
- the line is (British English) engaged/ (especially North American English) busy
- the phones have been (North American English) ringing off the hook (= ringing frequently)
- put somebody through/get through to the person you want to speak to
- put somebody on hold (= so that they must wait for the person they want to speak to)
- call from/use a landline
- be/talk on a (both British English) mobile phone/mobile/(especially North American English) cell phone/(informal, especially North American English) cell
- use/answer/call (somebody on)/get a message on your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell
- switch/turn on/off your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell
- charge/recharge your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell
- a mobile/cell phone is on/is off/rings/goes off
- (British English) top up your mobile/cell (phone)
- send/receive a text (message)/an SMS (message)/a fax
- insert/remove/change a SIM card
- too full of small details
- This wallpaper is too busy for the bedroom.
doing something
period of time
place
phone line
pattern/design
Word OriginOld English bisgian (verb), bisig (noun); related to Dutch bezig, of unknown origin.
Idioms
as busy as a bee
- very busyMore Like This Similes in idiomsSimiles in idioms
- (as) bald as a coot
- (as) blind as a bat
- (as) bright as a button
- (as) bold as brass
- as busy as a bee
- as clean as a whistle
- (as) dead as a/the dodo
- (as) deaf as a post
- (as) dull as ditchwater
- (as) fit as a fiddle
- as flat as a pancake
- (as) good as gold
- (as) mad as a hatter/a March hare
- (as) miserable/ugly as sin
- as old as the hills
- (as) pleased/proud as Punch
- as pretty as a picture
- (as) regular as clockwork
- (as) quick as a flash
- (as) safe as houses
- (as) sound as a bell
- (as) steady as a rock
- (as) thick as two short planks
- (as) tough as old boots
keep (yourself) busy
- to find enough things to do
- Since she retired she's kept herself very busy.
- She needed to keep busy.