Idioms for competing demands

Posted by R. Berg on October 26, 2002

In Reply to: Idioms needed badly posted by Susan on October 26, 2002

: : : Are there any popular idioms in English meaning that one cannot always possess and take care of two precious things (say, family and enterprise,romance and reality) together?
: : : Thanks a lot!

: : These may not be exactly what you require, but they're close.

: : You can't have your cake and eat it.

: : or

: : A dog cannot have two masters.

: I thought that was "A man cannot serve two masters"?

An idiom used when too many projects or concerns are taking up someone's time and attention is "spreading oneself thin."

• Another idiom R. Berg 10/27/02
  • Another idiom JillB 10/27/02