on one's plate

Meanings

prepositional phrase

To be dealt with or handled.
I can't take on any more work. I already have enough on my plate.
3 more examples
"Sorry, Dave," says Bryan, tossing his notes onto Bliss's desk. "But this one's down to you. I've already got half a dozen blaggings on my plate thanks to our Muslim mates.”
2007, James Hawkins, Deadly Sin, page 176
The Concern Channel will tell you about learning to deal only with the significant, legitimate problems that are on your plate today — not what may be on your plate tomorrow.
2009, Joseph J. Luciani, Reconnecting: A Self-Coaching Solution to Revive Your Love Life, page 126
The only major case we had on our plate was in The Netherlands, of all places.
2009, Robert Van Voren, On Dissidents and Madness, page 239
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, plate.
I put too much food on my plate — but it would be rude not to finish it now!

Also see

From the metaphor of an amount of food ready to be eaten.

Polish na głowie

Spanish entre manos

Cite this entry

APA

on one's plate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20one's%20plate

MLA

“on one's plate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20one's%20plate. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on one's plate,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20one's%20plate.