手てが離はなせない

expression, i-adjective

tied up; busy; unable to leave one's work

Idiomatic expression meaning one's hands are full and cannot stop what one is doing. Often used when someone is in the middle of a task and cannot attend to something else.

• 今いま、手てが離はなせないので、後あとで電でん話わします。

  I'm tied up right now, so I'll call you later.

• 料りょう理り中ちゅうで手てが離はなせなくて、ドアに出でられなかった。

  I was in the middle of cooking and couldn't get away to answer the door.