English expression meaning to have more work that you can possibly deal with. It originated with the Royal Navy and referred to those times when a ship was caught in a severe
storm or
hurricane. This would require the
crew member to work continuously, often for extended periods with
little rest, to ensure the safety of the ship. During this
time the ship would have
green seas coming over the bows so that it appeared as if the bows were under
water. When telling of the experience once they were back on shore, the sailors would refer to the ship as being 'bows under' and gradually the expression became associated with the excessive workload incurred at the
time as well, so that having an excessive workload requiring continuous application to clear became known as being 'bows under'.
The expression came to be used within the Royal Dockyards to denote times when excessive workloads were experienced. One notable occasion being 1982 when, in response to the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, the Royal Dockyards fitted out ships taken up from trade for Naval service in less than six weeks, Commercial shipbuilders said that this would take more than six months for each vessel, but by carrying out the work in less than a quarter of the
time quoted by commercial shipbuilders the Royal Dockyards were 'bows under'.
