焦頭爛額 [－头烂额]

Jyutping ziu1 tau4 laan6 ngaak6
Pinyin jiāo tóu làn é

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. lit. badly burned about the head (from trying to put out a fire) (idiom)
  2. fig. hard-pressed
  3. under pressure (from a heavy workload, creditors etc)
Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 語句
    做錯​嘢​搞​到​自己​受好​大​傷害​，​損手爛​腳
    in a terrible state; literally: scorched head and broken brow
    • 佢學人做生意，結果搞到焦頭爛額。
      佢学人做生意，结果搞到焦头烂额。
      keoi5 hok6 jan4 zou6 saang1 ji3, git3 gwo2 gaau2 dou3 ziu1 tau4 laan6 ngaak6.
      He followed suit to do business and eventually he was in a sorry plight.
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. phrase, figuratively, idiomatic
    in a sorry plight; hard-pressed; overwrought; in trouble; overwhelmed
  2. phrase, idiomatic, literally
    to be scorched by the flames
Definitions (Kaifangcidian)
  1. （沒有對應漢語詞彙）
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    佢学人做生意，结果搞到焦头烂额。
    佢學人做生意，結果搞到焦頭爛額。
    keoi5 hok6 jan4 zou6 saang1 ji3, git3 gwo2 gaau2 dou3 ziu1 tau4 laan6 ngaak6.
    • He followed suit to do business and eventually he was in a sorry plight.