---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're up to your ass in alligators…"
description: "\"“When you're up to your ass in alligators, you forget about cleaning the swamp.”\" — Robert DeBard"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/robert-debard-273385_quote_when-you-re-up-to-your-ass-in-alligators_1351792.jpg"
---

#  When you're up to your ass in alligators, you forget about…

![“When you're up to your ass in alligators, you forget about cleaning the swamp.” quote by Robert DeBard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/robert-debard-273385_quote_when-you-re-up-to-your-ass-in-alligators_1351792.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/robert-debard-273385_quote_when-you-re-up-to-your-ass-in-alligators_1351792.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/robert-debard-273385_quote_when-you-re-up-to-your-ass-in-alligators_1351792.jpg)

> ““When you're up to your ass in alligators, you forget about cleaning the swamp.””

Robert DeBard

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

When overwhelmed by danger, one neglects essential tasks, illustrating misplaced priorities.

**In simple terms:** Crisis distracts from routine duties.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize essential tasks even under pressure.

Themes

priority distraction crisis focus maintenance

Mood

tense reflective

Type

advice metaphorical

When to use this quote

- emergency response
- daily chores
- project management

Key Concepts

risk management attention allocation

Questions to Reflect On

- What essential task are you ignoring?
- How can you maintain focus under stress?

A Different Perspective

Neglecting basics can worsen the crisis.

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## Related quotes

> [“In the swamp the alligators drifted like patches of bad-assed water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/in-the-swamp-the-alligators-drifted-like-patches-of-bad-assed-water/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [When youre up to your armpits in alligators, its hard to remember to drain the swamp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/when-youre-up-to-your-armpits-in-alligators-its-hard-to-remember-to/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [It's hard, when you're up to your armpits in alligators, to remember you came here to drain the swamp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-hard-when-you-re-up-to-your-armpits-in-alligators-to-remember/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [Once when I was golfing in Georgia, I hooked the ball into the swamp. I went in after it and found an alligator wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-hackett/once-when-i-was-golfing-in-georgia-i-hooked-the-ball-into-the-swamp-i/)

[Buddy Hackett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-hackett/)

> [When Amos Moses was a boy his daddy would use him for alligator bait, tie a rope around his neck and throw him in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-reed/when-amos-moses-was-a-boy-his-daddy-would-use-him-for-alligator-bait/)

[Jerry Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-reed/)

> [She gazed toward the marsh that grew thicker, deeper, greener with approaching summer. Mosquitoes whined in there, breeding in the dark water. Alligators slid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/she-gazed-toward-the-marsh-that-grew-thicker-deeper-greener-with/)

[Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/)

> [ Everything on Saturday morning \[cartoons\] moves alike that's one of the reasons it's not animation. The drawings are different, but everybody acts the same… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/everything-on-saturday-morning-cartoons-moves-alike-that-s-one-of-the/)

[Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/)

> [When we were shooting in Shreveport, me and a couple of friends went down to Lafayette, because they had a big Zydeco music festival…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-skarsgard/when-we-were-shooting-in-shreveport-me-and-a-couple-of-friends-went/)

[Alexander Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-skarsgard/)

> [Don't taunt the alligator until after you've crossed the creek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/don-t-taunt-the-alligator-until-after-you-ve-crossed-the-creek/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [I’ve wrestled with alligators, I’ve tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning And throw thunder in jail. You know I’m bad. just last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-ve-wrestled-with-alligators-i-ve-tussled-with-a-whale-i-done/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordell-hull/never-insult-an-alligator-until-after-you-have-crossed-the-river/)

[Cordell Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordell-hull/)

> [It makes my skin crawl to think about the violent ways snakes, lizards, alligators and other exotic creatures are raised and killed for boots,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-brook/it-makes-my-skin-crawl-to-think-about-the-violent-ways-snakes-lizards/)

[Kelly Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-brook/)

> [The government competes in the private sector the way an alligator competes with a duck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-government-competes-in-the-private-sector-the-way-an-alligator/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [See you later, alligator. After a while, crocodile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-haley/see-you-later-alligator-after-a-while-crocodile/)

[Bill Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-haley/)

> [All the pictures on the walls, they all white as lilies and smiling like alligators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/all-the-pictures-on-the-walls-they-all-white-as-lilies-and-smiling/)

[Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/)

## More Alligators quotes

> [All the pictures on the walls, they all white as lilies and smiling like alligators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/all-the-pictures-on-the-walls-they-all-white-as-lilies-and-smiling/)

[Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/)

> [See you later, alligator. After a while, crocodile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-haley/see-you-later-alligator-after-a-while-crocodile/)

[Bill Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-haley/)

> [The government competes in the private sector the way an alligator competes with a duck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-government-competes-in-the-private-sector-the-way-an-alligator/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [It makes my skin crawl to think about the violent ways snakes, lizards, alligators and other exotic creatures are raised and killed for boots,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-brook/it-makes-my-skin-crawl-to-think-about-the-violent-ways-snakes-lizards/)

[Kelly Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-brook/)

> [Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordell-hull/never-insult-an-alligator-until-after-you-have-crossed-the-river/)

[Cordell Hull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordell-hull/)

> [I’ve wrestled with alligators, I’ve tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning And throw thunder in jail. You know I’m bad. just last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-ve-wrestled-with-alligators-i-ve-tussled-with-a-whale-i-done/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [Don't taunt the alligator until after you've crossed the creek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/don-t-taunt-the-alligator-until-after-you-ve-crossed-the-creek/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [When we were shooting in Shreveport, me and a couple of friends went down to Lafayette, because they had a big Zydeco music festival…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-skarsgard/when-we-were-shooting-in-shreveport-me-and-a-couple-of-friends-went/)

[Alexander Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-skarsgard/)

> [ Everything on Saturday morning \[cartoons\] moves alike that's one of the reasons it's not animation. The drawings are different, but everybody acts the same… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/everything-on-saturday-morning-cartoons-moves-alike-that-s-one-of-the/)

[Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/)

> [She gazed toward the marsh that grew thicker, deeper, greener with approaching summer. Mosquitoes whined in there, breeding in the dark water. Alligators slid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/she-gazed-toward-the-marsh-that-grew-thicker-deeper-greener-with/)

[Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/)

> [“My love life couldn't be more nonexistent if Julius was all all-girls' boarding school with a moat full of alligators around it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flynn-meaney/my-love-life-couldn-t-be-more-nonexistent-if-julius-was-all-all-girls/)

[Flynn Meaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flynn-meaney/)

> [I’ve tried that. I’ve tried aspirin, too. Rusty thinks I should smoke marijuana, and I did for a while, but it only makes me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-ve-tried-that-i-ve-tried-aspirin-too-rusty-thinks-i-should-smoke/)

[Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/)

> [ Just take them rascals \[rapists, killers, child abusers\] out in the swamp / Put 'em on their knees and tie 'em to a stump… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-daniels/just-take-them-rascals-rapists-killers-child-abusers-out-in-the-swamp/)

[Charlie Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-daniels/)

> [“Boys, the longer you wait to get my requested prehistoric attack dogs, the more chance we have of people we care about getting hurt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gini-koch/boys-the-longer-you-wait-to-get-my-requested-prehistoric-attack-dogs/)

[Gini Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gini-koch/)

> [That dreadful alligator attack in Orlando would never have happened if Disney had put up real warning signs, like other Florida resorts do. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hiaasen/that-dreadful-alligator-attack-in-orlando-would-never-have-happened/)

[Carl Hiaasen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hiaasen/)

Browse all 94 Alligators quotes

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