1 B1 idiomatic informal
To overwhelm someone with an excessive amount of work or tasks so they cannot manage.
"I can't meet for lunch this week — I'm absolutely snowed under with reports."
separable
snow under
B2 informal separable transitive
To overwhelm someone with so much work, information, or requests that they cannot cope.
In plain English
To give someone so much work or so many things to deal with that they can't keep up.
What does "snow under" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To overwhelm someone with information, requests, or communications to the point where they cannot respond.
"After the product launch, the customer service team was snowed under with emails."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To be buried under a pile of snow — the physical image of being covered and unable to move.
Actually means
To give someone so much work or so many things to deal with that they can't keep up.
Usage tip
Almost always used in the passive: 'I am snowed under.' Very common in workplace contexts. Extremely frequent in British English. The image is of being buried under so much 'snow' (work) that you cannot move.
Words that pair with "snow under"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
work emails requests paperwork orders complaints
How to conjugate "snow under"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
snow under
I/you/we/they
3rd person
snows under
he/she/it
Past simple
snowed under
yesterday
Past participle
snowed under
have + pp
-ing form
snowing under
continuous
Hear "snow under" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "snow under" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "snow under"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
bury drown in flood inundate overwhelm swamp
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