Definition

1. Verb:
   • To carry too many things at once: To physically hold or transport an excessive number of items, more than is manageable.
   • To take on too much / to bite off more than one can chew: To attempt to handle an excessive number of tasks, responsibilities, or projects simultaneously, often resulting in poor outcomes.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đi đâu mà ôm đồm thế? (Where are you going, carrying so many things like that?)
  • Anh ấy ôm đồm quá nhiều dự án một lúc. (He is taking on too many projects at once.)
  • Ôm đồm lắm việc thì chẳng việc nào ra hồn. (If you take on too many tasks, none will be done properly.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a negative connotation, implying greed, poor judgment, or a lack of focus for trying to manage an excessive workload.

Variants and Related Words

• Ôm (v): to hug, to hold, to embrace. This is the root verb, while intensifies it to imply excess.

Synonyms

• To overcommit: To promise or take on more than one can handle.
• To overload oneself: To burden oneself with too much.
• To be overambitious: To attempt too much due to high ambition.

Related Idioms

• Ôm đồm ôm thêm: An intensified form emphasizing taking on even more excessive burdens.
  • Đừng có ôm đồm ôm thêm nữa, một mình anh không làm xuể. (Don't keep taking on more and more; you can't handle it all alone.)

verb

1. cary too many things with one
   • đi đâu mà ôm đồm thế
     Where are you going with so many things. to take more than one can cope with at a time