猫(ねこ)の手(て)も借(か)りたい

ねこのてもかりたい

expression

desperately short-handed

1. even want to borrow a cat's paws; desperately busy

So extremely busy that one would accept any help available, even from a cat (whose paws are useless for work). Describes a state of being overwhelmingly short-handed.

年末(ねんまつ)は猫(ねこ)の手(て)も借(か)りたいほど忙(いそが)しい。

At year-end, we're so busy we'd even borrow a cat's paws.

人手(ひとで)が足(た)りなくて、猫(ねこ)の手(て)も借(か)りたい状況(じょうきょう)だ。

We're so short-staffed that we'd take any help we can get.

イベント前日(ぜんじつ)は猫(ねこ)の手(て)も借(か)りたいぐらい準備(じゅんび)に追(お)われた。

The day before the event, we were so overwhelmed with preparations that any help would've been welcome.

USAGE: This expression vividly describes extreme busyness or being desperately short-handed. The humor comes from the absurdity of wanting help from a cat, whose paws are clearly useless for human tasks.

COMMON PATTERNS:

猫(ねこ)の手(て)も借(か)りたいほど忙(いそが)しい (so busy one would even borrow a cat's paws)
猫(ねこ)の手(て)も借(か)りたい状況(じょうきょう) (a desperately short-handed situation)
猫(ねこ)の手(て)も借(か)りたいぐらいだ (we're so busy that...)

CULTURAL NOTE: This expression reflects the Japanese work culture where being extremely busy is common, especially during certain seasons like 年末(ねんまつ) (year-end), 決算期(けっさんき) (fiscal closing), or before major events.

SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:

てんてこ舞(ま)い (frantically busy)
目(め)が回(まわ)る (so busy one's head spins)

general

Added 2026.1.17 14:25 · Revised 2026.6.21 12:22

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