Japanese

Idiom

猫の手も借りたい ‎(hiragana ねこのてもかりたい, romaji neko no te mo karitai)

1. (idiomatic) so busy there are not enough hours in the day; lit. to want to borrow even the paw of a cat
   • 2005, 海の 穴子, しあわせの計り, 新風舎, page 48,

     年の暮れは、海苔生産者は、猫の手も借りたいほど忙しい。

     toshi no kure wa, nori seisansha wa, neko no te mo karitai hodo isogashii.

     At the end of the year producers of nori are so busy there aren't enough hours in the day.