Some Spanish Expressions

I would like try to show you some Spanish expressions, but it’s a difficult task because the literal translation doesn't make sense in English.

“Estar más liado que la pata de un romano”
Literal translation: I'm more busy/rolled than the leg of a Roman.
We usually use this expression when we haven’t any time because we’re very busy or when we’re confused. But in my case I'm using this expression in the second meaning.
The word “liado” has two meanings here: to be busy and rolled (because Romans wore sandals tied to the leg).

This expression is appropriate at this moment, because I'm confused writing this post!

Se me ocurrieron estos dichos que más o menos son similares:

"To be as busy as a beaver."  Literalmente, "Estar tan ocupado como un castor."

"To be as busy as a one-armed paperhanger."  Creo que existe en español:  "Estar más liado que un empapelador manco."

"To run around like a headless chicken"/"...... like a chicken without a head."  "ir de acá para allá sin saber qué hacer."

"Estar al loro"
Literal translation: to be the parrot.
Its meaning is something like keep one's eyes on something or be careful with something...watch around you. I think the equivalent in English is ‘to be on the ball’  "to be on the ball" es perfecto.

"Ser más agarrado que un puño"
Literal translation: to be more tighter than a fist.
This expression is very difficult to explain, but we use it to say that someone is stingy.

"to be tight-fisted"

"Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos"
Literal translation: raise crows and they will peck out your eyes.
It means that if you are raising children or helping someone maybe will give you the cold shoulder when they are grown up.

Dicho irónicamente:  "No good deed goes unpunished."  Literalmente:  Cada buena obra será castigada.

"Mind that you don't lavish your gifts on the ungrateful."  Literalmente:  Cuidado, no seas pródigo hacia los ingratos."

"Más feo que un pie"
Literal translation: uglier than a foot
It is a comparison, and we use this expression to say someone is very, very ugly.

"uglier than sin"  Literalmente:  más feo que el pecado.    "He's so ugly than when he enters the kitchen, the onions cry."

"Mucho ruido y pocas nueces"
Literal translation: a lot of noise, but no nuts.   Meaning: much ado about nothing.
We use it when something seems to be very interesting, because there is a great uproar, but in the end, it isn't anything special. Or when somebody speak a lot but don't say anything.

"Ser más corto que las mangas de un chaleco"
Literal translation: shorter than the sleeves of a vest.
In this case 'short' makes reference to 'little intelligence'. We use this expression to say someone is silly or can't understand something quick.
The joke is that a vest doesn't has any sleeves.

"slow on the uptake"

If you get understand this and you think you know the equivalent expressions in English...please let me know!!