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"I was a bit busy" vs "I was a little bit busy"

"I was a bit busy" means the same thing as "I was a little busy."
Surprisingly, sometimes people use "I was a little bit busy" to tell others that they were extremely busy.

Last Updated: March 20, 2019

I was a bit busy

This is correct

"I was a bit busy" and "I was a little busy" are equivalent. They are both ways to say that you were somewhat busy.

ExpertExplanation provided by a TextRanch English expert


Some examples from our editors:

  • I was a bit busy at work, but nothing too crazy happened.
  • The flow of customers was fairly steady. I was a bit busy all day.

Some alternatives from our editors:

  • I was a little busy.
  • I was somewhat busy.

I was a little bit busy

This is correct

While "I was a little bit busy" sounds like the speaker is saying "I was somewhat" busy, this is usually an understatement.

People often say "I was a little bit busy" when they actually mean that they were extremely busy. It can be an expression of frustration.

ExpertExplanation provided by a TextRanch English expert


Some examples from our editors:

  • "Oh, Gerald, you want to know why the house is messy? I was just a little bit busy attending to three toddlers today!"
  • "Sorry I couldn't talk, Mom. The line at work was out the door, so I was a little bit busy."

Some alternatives from our editors:

  • I was overwhelmed.
  • I was incredibly busy.

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