na-adjective, adverb, noun
to the limit; at one's limit; breaking even
Describes being at the absolute limit of one's capacity, resources, or time; often used when barely managing or just scraping by. The 'breaking even' nuance appears in financial or scheduling contexts.
今月の予算はもういっぱいいっぱいだ。
This month's budget is already stretched to the limit.
仕事
Work is so busy that I'm at my limit every day.
na-adjective, adverb, noun
one cup after another; cup by cup
Literal meaning of drinking or pouring one cup after another in succession. Rarely used in modern conversation; the figurative sense is far more common.
彼は酒を一杯一杯とあおった。
He downed one cup of sake after another.