Too Many Irons in the Fire

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Meaning:

Too Many Irons in the Fire means to have a lot of activities happening at once.

Origin:

This phrase describes someone who is attempting to do too many things at once, someone who has divided his time between too many activities so that none of them are done well. It is inefficient and unfocused to have too many irons in the fire.

One reference says it has to do with the blacksmith trade. The phrase too many irons in the fire dates back to the mid-1500s. A skilled blacksmith has "a well-trained apprentice who maintains such control of the bellows and the placement of the irons that each is ready in turn at the anvil and hammer...'Too many irons in the fire' would mark an inefficient smith or one with an unskilled apprentice."

Example:

Today the phrase still holds some of the same meaning, when we try to do too many things, nothing is done well. An example sentence is:

"Don't give her any more assignments right now—she has too many irons in the fire as it is."

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