As Busy as a One-Armed Paper Hanger + Examples

Hey. I’m here again with a very interesting subject to teach you. I am going to tell you everything about a very new idiom “as busy as a one-armed paper hanger”. I guess you had not heard it before.

This idiom is said in another way as well, which is “busier than a one-armed paper hanger”. Both variants of this idiom mean “very busy” or “exceedingly busy”.

 

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Definition and Examples

First thing, let’s find out about the definition of the idiom and read some examples. The dictionary explanation for this idiom is as follows:
(as) busy as a one-armed paperhanger (with an itch)
Meaning: Constantly busy, active, or occupied (with something)
Examples:

• I’m currently designing three plays, so I’m busy as one-armed paperhanger.
• Can we meet next week instead? I’m just as busy as a one-armed paperhanger with an itch right now.
• Between working two part-time jobs, volunteering on the weekends, and looking after his little brother, Sam’s been busy as a one-armed paperhanger this summer.

Origin of the idiom “as busy as a one-armed paperhanger”

1. The phrase “as busy as a one-armed paperhanger” is an idiomatic expression used to convey that someone is extremely busy or overwhelmed with tasks. It creates a vivid picture of the difficulty of managing complex tasks under strenuous circumstances.

 

2. The idiom likely originated in the United States during the late 19th to early 20th century, a time characterized by rapid industrialization and the emergence of various trades, including paperhanging, which made the phrase relatable to many.

 

3. Paperhanging refers to the craft of applying wallpaper to interior walls. This work requires skill, physical effort, and attention to detail, making it a challenging job under normal circumstances. The idiom thus embodies the hard work and dedication associated with tradespeople of that era.

 

4. The specific mention of “one-armed” serves as a striking visual element. It suggests a worker facing significant challenges and limitations, emphasizing the franticness of trying to accomplish a task that normally requires two hands.

 

5. By using a one-armed worker as a metaphor, the idiom communicates not only busyness but also the struggle to overcome obstacles. It allows people to empathize with the frustration of trying to get things done under adverse conditions.

 

6. The idiom reflects American cultural values that often celebrate hard work, resilience, and the human spirit’s ability to overcome difficulties. It speaks to the societal expectation to remain industrious regardless of personal challenges.

 

7. While it is widely recognized in the U.S., research indicates that the phrase might have regional origins, particularly in Southern or Midwestern states where tradespeople were common. Dialects and local vernacular can contribute to the nuances in the idiom’s usage across different areas.

 

8. The idiom contains a humorous undertone, juxtaposing the seriousness of busyness with the absurdity of someone trying to handle a complex job with a significant limitation. This contrast often invites laughter and lightens the mood when discussing overwhelming tasks.✨

 

9. The quirky nature of this phrase makes it appealing and memorable. Its imagery ensures that it sticks in people’s minds, making it an effective tool in conversation to describe a hectic schedule.

 

10. Beyond indicating mere busyness, the idiom can imply chaos and a lack of control over one’s circumstances. It invokes imagery of a person frantically juggling responsibilities, enriching the meaning of the phrase.

 

11. “As busy as a one-armed paperhanger” is reminiscent of other common idioms like “busy as a bee.” However, it distinguishes itself through its unique imagery and the implication of extra effort due to constraints.

 

12. The idiom has appeared in various forms of literature, films, and television shows, further embedding it in popular culture and helping to illustrate characters’ frantic lifestyles or overwhelming workloads.

 

13. Language educators often use idioms like this one to teach about figurative language and the richness of colloquial expression in English. It serves as an example of how language can convey complex ideas succinctly.

 

14. Over the decades, the idiom has adapted, remaining relevant as work cultures have changed, particularly during periods of economic growth or downturn, when individuals often find themselves stretched thin.

 

15. Many people can relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed by obligations, making the idiom resonate on a personal level. It reflects a common sentiment in a fast-paced, productivity-driven culture.

 

16. In professional environments, the phrase is frequently used to describe employees who are juggling multiple projects, thereby acknowledging their striving while subtly hinting at the chaos of workplace demands.

 

17. The idiom highlights the tension between busyness and the ideal of leisure. It prompts reflections on work-life balance, raising questions about societal values surrounding productivity and personal time.

Other Synonymous Idioms

Other attractive English idioms to state such busyness include “busy as a beaver”, “busy as a bee”, “busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest”, “busier than flies in a tarpit”,

“busier than a bee in a tar bucket”, “busier than a bee on a buzzsaw”, “busier than a cranberry merchant”, and “busier than a one-eyed cat watching three mice holes”.

In the following section, I have provided a list of sample sentences including this idiom and its variants in different books and media programs. The year and the country in which the idiom has been used is mentioned as well.

 

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Sample Sentences

1907 T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 22: It was one of those lightning-like affairs in which both men worked so fast that you are even busier than the one-armed paper hanger who had the hives.

1908 [US] ‘O. Henry’ ‘The Ethics of Pig’ in Gentle Grafter (1915) 235: I got busy as a one-armed man with the 4

1912 [Aus] Nat. Advocate (Bathurst) 29 May 4/1: Cyril, the bookkeeper, was busier than a one-armed paperhanger with the hives, three days behind with his books.

1914 [US] T.A. Dorgan Indoor Sports 5 Mar. [synd. cartoon] He’s as busy as a one-armed club swinger with the poison ivy.

1915 A. Baer Training Camp 1 Mar. [synd. col.] Mike is busier than a one-armed paperhanger with an extravagant wife.

1918 [Aus] Queenslander (Brisbane) 16 Mar. n.p.: For three weeks the old gentleman was as busy as the proverbial one-armed paper hanger with the itch.

1920 A. Baer Speaking of Beauty 28 Aug. [synd. col.] America is busier than a one-eared telephone operator.

1921 [US] Jerry on the Job [comic strip] I’m as busy as a one-armed guy buttoning his glove.

1925 [US] (con. 1899) H.P. Bailey Shanghaied Out of Frisco 64: Busy? Why, I am that goldarn busy, I—I’m busy as a one-armed paperhanger with an itchy armpit.

1926 [US] Wood & Goddard Dict. Amer. Sl. 10: busy as a one-armed paper-hanger with the barber’s itch. Very busy.

1926 [Aus] Cessnock Eagle (NSW) 13 July 5/2: It may be truthfully said that Charlie was as busy as a one-armed paper-hanger with the hives.

1930 [US] J. Held Jr ‘Merely Margy’ [comic strip] Not a chance. I’m as busy as a one-armed paper-hanger.

1930 [UK] Eve. News 1 Aug. 6/5: One thing is certain, and that is that the Commissioner, for the next six months, is going to be busier than a one-armed paper-hanger with the itch.

1932 [Aus] Townsville Dly Bulletin (Qld) 5 May 8/5: [T]he latter being as busy as a one-arm paper-hanger with prickly heat.

1940 [Aus] Truth (Brisbane) 2 June 2/3: As energetic as a one-armed paper hanger with the itch,Ted Fordyce rattled Rosante into giving off his very best.

1941 [Aus] Truth (Brisbane) 21 Dec. 2/3: [They] had to resort to ‘Shanks’ Pony’ and foot-slog it to the Valley, where tram conductors were kept as busy as one-armed paper-hangers suffering from prickly heat.

1949 [US] W.R. Burnett, Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 201: Busy as one-armed paper-hangers right now.

1949 [Aus] Brisbane Teleg. 29 Apr. 12/3: ‘As busy as a one-armed paper-hanger with an itch’ might well describe the activities of timpanist Ralph Benfell .

1951 [Aus] D. Stivens, Jimmy Brockett 112: Nine-thirty in the morning saw me as busy as a one-armed man with the itch.

1951 [Aus] Advertiser (Adelaide) 7 Dec. 1/6: We were busier than a battalion of one-armed paper hangers.

1959 [NZ] G. Slatter, Gun in My Hand 147: I’ve been busy as a one-armed paper-hanger.

1967 [US] M. Braly, On the Yard (2002) 28: Hell, I had to hustle like a one-armed paperhanger to keep myself straight.

1974 [Aus] Aus. Women’s Wkly 28 Aug. 110/3: You can plan to be as busy as a one-armed paper-hanger with the itch, but if no one really cares if you do it or not, it is all valueless.

1977 [US] R. Coover Public Burning (1979) 407: I’ve been busy as a one-armed paperhanger with the nettle rash.

1979 [Aus] D. Maitland Breaking Out 276: The Reverend, here, has worked like a bloody one-armed paper hanger to turn this place into something fit for human beings.

1983 [Aus] Canberra Times (ACT) 22 June 29/4: An extended version of the simile offered last week about the one-armed paper-hanger is ‘as busy as a one-armed paperhanger with the hives’.

1984 [US] in Maledicta VIII 240: He was busier than a one-armed paperhanger with crabs.

1985 [Aus] R.G. Barrett You Wouldn’t Be Dead for Quids (1989) 46: Sally was going at it busier than a one-armed paper hanger with the crabs.

1986 B. Hudson First Aus. Dict. Vulgarities & Obscenities n.p: One-armed. Indicating frenetic activity: (1) Busy as a one-armed (wall) paper hanger. (2) Busy as a one-armed taxi driver with crabs.

1992 [Aus] Sun-Herald (Sydney) 16 Aug. 25: She says she’s busier than a one-armed paper hanger.

2003 [NZ] McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 40: busy as a one-armed paperhanger with crabs [ibid.] 130: looks like a one-armed taxi driver with crabs; Very busy.

2003 K. Richards Aussie Bible 36: At the time Jesus was busy healing – busy as a one-armed paper-hanger in a gale – dealing with every kind of sickness in the medical dictionary.

2005 [US] B. Zimmer posting at ADS-L 26 June. The ‘Canonical List Of Language Humor’ maintained by the rec.humor newsgroup in the mid-’90s included these similes: […] Busy as a one-armed wallpaper hanger with the crabs.

2012 Blokey Shed 22 Sept. Classic lines […] Busy as a one-armed paper hanger with crabs.

2015 [Aus] N. Cummins Tales of the Honey Badger [e-book] I was busier than a one-armed bricklayer in Baghdad.

 

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Concluding Note

Well, that was today’s lesson about the idiom “as busy as a one-armed paper hanger”. In this lesson, we learned about the definition and origin of this interesting idiom.

We also studied a number of sample sentences including the idiom. In addition, we learned a few other idioms with the same structure and meaning. As you see, this idiom and its variants are used very commonly in conversations.

I hope you enjoyed todays’ lesson. Try to use this idiom and its variants in your conversations to sound more native-like. And visit my page again for more interesting English lessons.