Read the following sentence. The underlined phrase is an idiom that uses figurative language. What could this phrase mean?
When you work on your project, you shouldn’t bite off more than you can chew by working on too much at one time.
• Don't talk with food in your mouth.
• Don't do more than you can handle.
• Don't eat too much food.
• Don't eat someone else's food.
The underlined phrase in the sentence is "bite off more than you can chew." This is an idiom that uses figurative language. To understand what it means, you can break it down:
- "Bite off": This means to take a bite from something.
- "More than you can chew": This means to take a larger bite than you are able to chew or manage.
When used together, the idiom "bite off more than you can chew" means taking on more responsibility or tasks than you are capable of handling. It suggests that it is better to be realistic about what you can handle and not overburden yourself.
Based on this understanding, the most appropriate interpretation for the phrase in the sentence is: "Don't do more than you can handle."