overwhelming task

[/ˌoʊvərˈwɛlmɪŋ tæsk/]
noun phrasepl: overwhelming tasks
tarefa avassaladora
1. A task or job that is so large, difficult, or demanding that it causes feelings of being unable to cope or manage effectively
Organizing the entire wedding in two weeks felt like an overwhelming task.
Organizar o casamento inteiro em duas semanas parecia uma tarefa avassaladora.
2. Work or responsibility that exceeds one's current capacity, skills, or emotional resources
For a new employee, learning the entire system in one day can be an overwhelming task.
Para um novo funcionário, aprender todo o sistema em um dia pode ser uma tarefa avassaladora.
In both American and Brazilian cultures, this phrase reflects modern workplace and personal life stress. Brazilians may use this expression to commiserate with colleagues about workload, while Americans often use it in self-help and productivity discussions. The concept is culturally significant in discussing work-life balance and mental health awareness in both countries.
NYC Slang
That's too much to handle, that's a lot on your plate
Synonyms / Sinônimos
daunting taskmonumental taskherculean taskimpossible taskarduous task
Antonyms / Antônimos
simple taskeasy taskmanageable tasktrivial task

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
tarefa avassaladora
Standard and widely used throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
tarefa de matar
Colloquial expression meaning an extremely difficult task
São Paulo
tarefa pesada
More formal/business context, emphasis on heaviness of workload
Portugal
tarefa esmagadora
Portuguese variant, commonly used in formal and informal contexts

Related Words

stressburdenchallengeresponsibilityworkload

Related Idioms & Phrases

bite off more than you can chew
have your hands full
too much on your plate
more than you can handle
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