To Be Swamped

Idiom: “to be swamped”

Meaning:  To be overwhelmed with a great amount of work or obligations

Example #1:

Jackie: I’m so tired! I think I’ve been up for about 48 hours.

Johnny:  Oh, no. Why haven’t you been sleeping?

Jackie: I am absolutely swamped with work! I’m even taking it home at night and working on it. It just never seems to end!

Johnny:  Well, even though you are swamped, you still need to make time to take care of yourself and get some sleep.

Example #2:  

                         

Sarah: This is really irritating. Pete won’t even return any or my calls or texts.

Jacob: Didn’t you hear? He is swamped with family obligations right now. He has to take care of his sick grandma and his 7 year old niece is living with him, so he has to drive her to school every day.  On top of that, he works full-time. 

Sarah: Well, he could at least send me a text saying he can’t talk right now because he is swamped. It’s really rude to just not answer at all.  I thought he didn’t want to be friends anymore.

Jacob: No, he just has a lot of things to do. You should be more understanding and try to be supportive during this time. He’ll call eventually.

Sarah: You’re right.

Meaning: “To be swamped” means to be overwhelmed with work, studies, or obligations. In example 1, Jackie is so swamped with work she cannot even sleep at night.  In example 2, Pete is swamped with family obligations and cannot return any calls.  

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To Be Floored

Idiom: “to be floored”

Meaning:  To shocked, surprised, or overwhelmed by something

Example #1:

Jenny: Hey, Johnny! Did you hear that Jane and Craig are getting a divorced?

Johnny:  No, I haven't heard that.

Jenny: Yes, apparently Craig found out that Jane has been having an affair with the next door neighbor! I was absolutely floored when I found out. They seemed like the perfect couple.

Johnny:  Well, I’m never floored by that kind of news. It’s just human nature.

 

Example #2:

Sarah: Guess what? Timmy won the lottery! I was just floored when I heard the news.

Jacob: Wow! That’s great. How much did he win?

Sarah: I think over a million dollars.

Jacob: I bet he was floored when he found out.

                            Sarah: Yes, he was. I think he still can’t believe it.

Meaning: “To be floored” means to be really shocked is floored by the news. In example 1, two people who seemed like the perfect couple are getting a divorce because of an affair.  Jenny cannot believe it and she is really shocked. In example 2, the two people are talking about their friend who won the lottery, which is very unusual and surprising.

For more information, please visit: www.languagesystems.edu