walk and chew gum at the same time

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

walk and chew gum at the same time (third-person singular simple present walks and chews gum at the same time, present participle walking and chewing gum at the same time, simple past and past participle walked and chewed gum at the same time)

1. (idiomatic, informal, chiefly in the negative) To do two normally trivial tasks at the same time; to exhibit basic competence or task-management skills.

Usage notes

• Used in negative phrases to indicate incompetence, e.g. "He couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time."
  • 1978, United States Federal Trade Commission, Statutes and Court Decisions, Federal Trade Commission:

    The philosophy communicated to T.E.C. salesmen was to enroll any person who could "walk and chew gum at the same time".