When you need this

Between work, kids, errands and everything else, a lot of family conversation is about time: who's free when, what can move, and what has to be dropped. People use a set of phrasal verbs and fixed phrases for this, and they use them fast. "Can you squeeze it in?" "Let me move some things around." "I'm completely swamped."

These phrases are useful because they let you say no without saying no. "I'm a bit stretched this week" is softer than "I can't", and it opens the door to "How about next week?"

Phrases

a week with a lot to do

have far too much to do

find time for something extra

make time available by moving other things

change your schedule to make space

two things planned for the same time

a list of tasks you need to do

decide what is most important

in control of what you need to do

be later than planned

delay doing something

too much is happening, so something must stop

Say it out loud

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

Practice · 3 min

Say one natural line for each situation.

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Say it today

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