When you need this

The inbox is full, the deadline moved closer, and your boss wants one more thing by Friday. Work stress has its own everyday vocabulary, and coworkers use it all the time, often with a small laugh. "I'm swamped" at the coffee machine is how people say "I'm stressed" without making it a big deal.

There are two kinds of phrases here. Some describe the load: "swamped", "too much on my plate", "a crazy week". Others do something about it: asking to move a deadline, asking for help, taking a day off. The second kind is where your English really pays off, because a calm, clear request usually works better than working until midnight.

"Push the deadline" is American office English for "move it later". It sounds casual, but it's fine with most managers.

Phrases

very, very busy

too many jobs at once

busy and stressful, often said with a smile

the work must be finished soon

you stay after normal hours

no rest for a long time

you accept too much work

asking to finish later

asking the team for help

you need a moment before saying yes

you need rest

the stress is normal for the season

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Practice · 3 min

Say it at work. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.