I was a little busy vs I was bit busy

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'I was a little busy' is a more common and natural way to express being somewhat busy. 'I was a bit busy' is also correct but may sound a bit more informal or casual.

Last updated: April 09, 2024 • 291 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"I was a little busy"

This phrase is used to indicate that you were somewhat busy, not excessively so. It is a common and natural way to express a moderate level of busyness.

Examples:

I couldn't talk for long because I was a little busy.
I was a little busy this morning, but I can help you now.
Sorry I didn't reply earlier, I was a little busy with work.
She seemed a little busy, so I didn't want to disturb her.
I was a little busy with errands, but I'm free now.

Show examples from the web [+]

I was a little busy trying not to get stabbed.
I was a little busy trying not to bleed to death.
I was a little busy posing as a professional killer.
I was a little busy posing as a professional killer.
No, I was a little busy.
Okay, I was a little busy. I didn't really see much.
I was a little busy trying to keep the town from burnin' down, Horace.
Well, you know, I was a little busy.
Clark, as much as I would love to contribute to Lois' divine-intervention story, I was a little busy being unconscious.
The com system must be down, and, frankly, I was a little busy.
I was a little busy opening the door for people who show up unannounced.
I'm sorry if I was a little busy trying to save Jimmy's life.
I was a little busy.
I was a little busy trying...

Alternatives:

I was somewhat busy
I was a tad busy
I was a touch busy
I was a trifle busy
I was a little preoccupied

This phrase is correct but may sound a bit more informal or casual.

"I was bit busy"

This phrase is also used to indicate being somewhat busy, but it may sound more informal or colloquial compared to 'I was a little busy'. It is still grammatically correct.

Examples:

I couldn't answer the phone because I was a bit busy.
I was a bit busy with some urgent tasks.
She's been a bit busy lately, so she hasn't had time to meet up.
I was a bit busy earlier, but I'm free now.
Sorry for the delay, I was a bit busy with other things.

Show examples from the web [+]

I was bit busy
Sorry. I was a bit busy earlier.
Sorry. I totally spaced out on you, I was a bit busy in Nairobi.
I was a little bit busy fighting for my life.
Annoyingly, the northbound street I'd selected was a bit busy.
Because I was a bit too busy sorting out my life to track down the Koreans, Joe sold it to.
Bit busy, to be honest.
I'm a bit busy right now.
Listen, I'm a bit busy.
We've been a bit busy with our little angel.
They're a bit busy dealing with the storm of the century.
Now I'm bit busy so...
I've just been a little bit busy.
I said, I've been a bit busy.
We were a bit busy with this conference.
This week I'm a bit busy.
Sorry, I'm a bit busy.
I'm a bit busy, Mr. Sweeney.
Not now, I'm a little bit busy.
Bit busy, to be honest.
I'm actually a bit busy.

Alternatives:

I was somewhat busy
I was a little busy
I was quite busy
I was rather busy
I was pretty busy

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany