snowed under
colloquial phrase

- to have so much work that you have problems dealing with it all

(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

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WORD ORIGIN

In this phrase, snow is a euphemism for work. And to be "snowed under" brings to mind an image of being buried under a mountain of snow, with little chance of getting out from under it.

Here are a few other "snowy" idioms:

- to be as white as snow - to be very white (My grandmother's hair is as white as snow.)

- to be pure as the driven snow - to be morally good. This stems from the idea that driven snow, or snow that is being blown around and has yet to hit the ground, is pure. (She's a real angel, with thoughts as pure as the driven snow.)

a snow job - an attempt to persuade or deceive someone by praising them or not telling the truth. In this case, snow is used to portray a picture of covering - up the truth. (I'm never buying a car from that place again. That was nothing but a snow job!)

- snowed in - a situation where it has snowed so much, that you can't get out of the house to go to work or school. (Sorry, but I have to work from home today. I'm snowed in.)

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SYNONYMS

inundated, ploughed under, overwhelmed, deluged, engulfed, overrun, swamped, submerged, drowning, flooded

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Practice OWAD in a conversation:

"We've been snowed under with applications for the new position."