Canada· medium· informal
être dans le jus
“to be in the juice”
Meaning
to be completely overwhelmed with work
Explanation
Picture someone stewing in their own juices at the office: too much to do and no room to breathe. This use of 'jus' is Québécois (and old Auvergne dialect); in France the same phrase can instead mean nursing a hangover.
Example
Désolée, je peux pas te parler, je suis dans le jus jusqu'au cou.
Sorry, I can't talk, I'm completely swamped right now.
Origin
Origin uncertain. It's not hard to picture someone so buried in work they're basically stewing in it.
Where
Quebec
More like this
- avoir des croûtes à mangerto still have a lot to learn
- être né pour un petit painTo be resigned to a life of modest means
- se pogner le beigneto laze around
- ambitionner sur le pain béniTo push your luck too far
- avoir les yeux dans la graisse de binesTo be half asleep
- éplucher des vieux légumesto keep bringing up old grudges