The idiom "too busy fighting alligators to drain the swamp" means that someone is too preoccupied with dealing with small, urgent problems to focus on the bigger, more important issues. It suggests that the person is so caught up in dealing with immediate crises that they cannot address the underlying causes of those problems.
For example, imagine a manager who spends all day putting out fires and dealing with minor issues in the workplace, but never takes the time to address the root causes of those problems. They might be described as "too busy fighting alligators to drain the swamp."
This idiom is often used in situations where someone is so overwhelmed with urgent tasks that they cannot focus on more important long-term goals. It can be used in a variety of contexts, from personal relationships to business or politics.
• The world leaders are failing to address the pressing environmental issues facing the planet. They are too busy fighting alligators to drain the swamp.
• The CEO of the company is too preoccupied with short-term gains to address the long-term sustainability of the business. He is too busy fighting alligators to drain the swamp.
• Sorry, I won't be able to attend the meeting this afternoon. I'm currently too busy fighting alligators to drain the swamp.
• The government is failing to address the root cause of the country's economic problems. They are too busy fighting alligators to drain the swamp.
• I can't clean my room right now. I'm too busy fighting alligators to drain the swamp.
• The company's employees are struggling to meet their targets. The management is too busy fighting alligators to drain the swamp.