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、手が離せないので、後で電話します。
I'm tied up right now, so I'll call you later.
料理中で手が離せなくて、ドアに出られなかった。
I was in the middle of cooking and couldn't get away to answer the door.