Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

Don’t bite off more than you can chew is an old American saying meaning don’t take on more responsibility or work than you can handle. Though common in Southern speech, its roots stretch across the U.S., not just the South.

#Southernish

synonyms: overdo it, overpromise, take on too much, get in over your head

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Don’t you bite off more’n you can chew" is excellent advice, but that don't make it Southern!

Hillbilly Dude Says...

'Don’t you bite off more’n you can chew" is excellent advice, but that don't make it Southern!

Pronunciation

[DOHNT bahyt off
more’n yuh kin choo]
/doʊnt baɪt ɔf mɔːɹ ən ju kən tʃu/

Meaning & Usage

- Take on more than one can manage (warning or caution)

Jess:

You sure you can handle both jobs?

Raylene:

I might’ve bit off more’n I can chew this time.

variations: bite off more’n you can chew

Origin

The phrase likely originated in 19th-century America, referring to chewing tobacco or food. Its earliest recorded uses appear outside the South, but it quickly became part of everyday rural and Southern speech. Folksy and vivid, it fits naturally into the Southern storytelling style, even if it wasn’t born there.

Verdict: Southernish. Widespread American idiom with Southern flavor, but not uniquely Southern.

Notes

Used across the U.S. but especially natural in Southern and rural dialects.
Commonly given as advice or self-reflection after overcommitting.
Appears in early 20th-century idiom collections, not confined to Southern sources.
Often shortened in casual Southern speech ("more’n you can chew").

Common Questions

What does "don’t bite off more than you can chew" mean?

It warns against taking on more than you can manage or handle comfortably.

Is it a Southern saying?

Not originally-it’s an American idiom that spread nationwide, though it fits easily into Southern talk.

Where did it come from?

Probably 19th-century America, possibly from chewing tobacco culture, later broadened to any kind of overcommitment.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 18). Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/dont-bite-off-more-than-you-can-chew
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew." HillbillySlang.com, 18 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/dont-bite-off-more-than-you-can-chew.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew." HillbillySlang.com. October 18, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/dont-bite-off-more-than-you-can-chew.