What Is the Origin of the "To Bite Off More Than You Can Chew"?
To bite off more than he can chew dates back to the 1800s in America, where it was common practice to chew tobacco. People would offer others a bite of their tobacco block, and some would greedily take a bite bigger than they would chew. People began to notice this and forewarned others not to bite off more than you can chew.
How Do You Say "To Bite Off More Than You Can Chew"?
- To Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
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More Examples of Use
- He plays rugby, has a full-time job, and now he's studying architecture. He's bitten off more than he can chew.
- You've bitten off more than you can chew. Why don't you adjust your workload?
- I know you want that promotion, but please don't bite off more than you can chew.
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