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50 Idioms for Working
Idioms are special phrases where the words together mean something different from what they say one by one. People use them to make talking and writing more colorful and exciting when describing jobs and tasks. In this lesson, you will learn fifty unique idioms related to working hard and getting things done.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean laboring, putting in effort, and staying busy. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Working
1. Elbow grease
Definition: Hard physical effort and manual labor used to clean or build something.
Used in a Sentence: Scrubbing the kitchen floor clean required a lot of elbow grease. / He applied extra elbow grease to polish his bicycle until it shone.
Similar Expressions: Physical effort / Hard labor
2. Put your shoulder to the wheel
Definition: To start working with strong determination and earnest effort.
Used in a Sentence: If we want to finish building the treehouse, we need to put our shoulder to the wheel. / The whole team put their shoulder to the wheel to complete the project.
Similar Expressions: Push hard / Work diligently
3. Nose to the grindstone
Definition: To work continuously and steadily without taking breaks.
Used in a Sentence: She kept her nose to the grindstone all afternoon to finish her essay. / Exam week means keeping your nose to the grindstone in the library.
Similar Expressions: Work steadily / Focus hard
4. Roll up your sleeves
Definition: To prepare yourself physically and mentally to start hard work.
Used in a Sentence: Let us roll up our sleeves and clean the messy art room before recess. / Dad rolled up his sleeves to fix the broken fence gate.
Similar Expressions: Get ready to work / Prepare for action
5. Burn the midnight oil
Definition: To stay awake late into the night working or studying.
Used in a Sentence: He was burning the midnight oil to prepare for his science finals. / Mom spent the evening burning the midnight oil on office reports.
Similar Expressions: Work late / Night study
6. Pull your weight
Definition: To do your fair share of work in a group project or team.
Used in a Sentence: Everyone on the soccer team must pull their weight during practice drills. / When working in pairs, make sure both partners pull their weight.
Similar Expressions: Do your share / Contribute fully
7. Put your back into it
Definition: To apply maximum physical strength and effort to a task.
Used in a Sentence: Put your back into lifting that heavy box of books. / The boys put their backs into pushing the cart across the yard.
Similar Expressions: Lift heavy / Exert strength
8. Put your shoulder into it
Definition: To push or work with strong physical force and commitment.
Used in a Sentence: Put your shoulder into opening the stuck wooden door. / He put his shoulder into moving the heavy sofa across the rug.
Similar Expressions: Push hard / Apply force
9. Hit the ground running
Definition: To start a job or task immediately with high energy and speed.
Used in a Sentence: Leo wanted to hit the ground running on his first day at the community garden. / With good planning, our club can hit the ground running tomorrow.
Similar Expressions: Start fast / Leap into action
10. Put the pedal to the metal
Definition: To work as fast as possible to meet a tight deadline.
Used in a Sentence: We had to put the pedal to the metal to finish our posters before noon. / The printer was working overtime as we put the pedal to the metal.
Similar Expressions: Work fast / Speed up
11. Put your shoulder to the plow
Definition: To commit yourself to a long and demanding task.
Used in a Sentence: Farming requires farmers to put their shoulder to the plow every morning. / We put our shoulders to the plow to finish clearing the path.
Similar Expressions: Commit to work / Labor steadily
12. Put your hand to the plow
Definition: To begin undertaking serious and steady work.
Used in a Sentence: Once you start the art mural, you must put your hand to the plow until it is done. / He was ready to put his hand to the plow for the charity drive.
Similar Expressions: Start labor / Begin work
13. Grind away
Definition: To work slowly and persistently at a difficult task.
Used in a Sentence: I spent hours grinding away at the complex math division problems. / The students kept grinding away at their history vocabulary.
Similar Expressions: Work persistently / Labor away
14. Keep your nose clean
Definition: To work honestly and stay out of trouble on the job.
Used in a Sentence: The supervisor told the new apprentices to keep their noses clean. / If you keep your nose clean, you will earn a promotion soon.
Similar Expressions: Work honestly / Stay honest
15. Make an honest living
Definition: To earn money through legal and hardworking employment.
Used in a Sentence: My grandfather worked hard every day to make an honest living. / Running a bakery is a wonderful way to make an honest living.
Similar Expressions: Earn wages / Work legally
16. Earn your keep
Definition: To work hard enough to prove you deserve your food, shelter, or position.
Used in a Sentence: Feeding the farm animals helps you earn your keep during summer camp. / Doing chores around the house helps kids earn their keep.
Similar Expressions: Deserve your place / Work for it
17. Pull a shift
Definition: To work for a designated period of time at your job.
Used in a Sentence: My older sister pulled a long shift at the bookstore on Saturday. / The volunteer pulled a four-hour shift at the animal shelter.
Similar Expressions: Work hours / Serve time
18. Put in the hours
Definition: To spend a significant amount of time practicing or working.
Used in a Sentence: Becoming a great piano player means you have to put in the hours. / He put in the hours practicing free throws after school.
Similar Expressions: Spend time / Practice hard
19. Put in the legwork
Definition: To do the hard foundational research or physical running around for a project.
Used in a Sentence: Finding the right historical facts required putting in the legwork at the library. / She did all the legwork for organizing the school talent show.
Similar Expressions: Do research / Groundwork effort
20. Sweat blood
Definition: To work with extreme anxiety, pain, and intense effort.
Used in a Sentence: We felt like we were sweating blood trying to finish the model bridge. / Preparing for the regional spelling bee meant sweating blood over words.
Similar Expressions: Labor intensely / Strive hard
21. Work your fingers to the bone
Definition: To labor continuously and exhaustively until you are very tired.
Used in a Sentence: Mom worked her fingers to the bone preparing for the family reunion. / The tailors worked their fingers to the bone sewing the costumes.
Similar Expressions: Labor exhaustively / Work tirelessly
22. Sweat for it
Definition: To earn success through hard work and physical exertion.
Used in a Sentence: If you want a trophy in track, you have to sweat for it during practice. / Winning the science fair means you have to sweat for it.
Similar Expressions: Earn success / Work hard
23. Carry the load
Definition: To take on the primary responsibility of doing the work for a group.
Used in a Sentence: Team captain Sam had to carry the load when two players fell sick. / Sharing chores prevents one person from having to carry the load alone.
Similar Expressions: Bear responsibility / Do heavy lifting
24. Do the heavy lifting
Definition: To handle the most difficult and strenuous part of a job.
Used in a Sentence: Dad did the heavy lifting of carrying furniture into the new house. / Older students did the heavy lifting for the carnival setup.
Similar Expressions: Handle hard parts / Do tough labor
25. Put your shoulder to the wheel of industry
Definition: To contribute actively to productive economic work.
Used in a Sentence: The factory workers put their shoulders to the wheel of industry every shift. / Communities thrive when citizens put their shoulders to the wheel of industry.
Similar Expressions: Work productively / Labor actively
26. Keep the wheels turning
Definition: To maintain continuous operations and ongoing work in a business or project.
Used in a Sentence: Office managers work hard to keep the wheels turning smoothly. / Volunteers help keep the wheels turning at the community center.
Similar Expressions: Maintain work / Keep going
27. Put your shoulder to the task
Definition: To focus your energy completely on completing an assignment.
Used in a Sentence: Put your shoulder to the task and your puzzle will be finished soon. / She put her shoulder to the task of organizing the bookshelves.
Similar Expressions: Focus effort / Tackle work
28. Keep at it
Definition: To continue working persistently despite challenges.
Used in a Sentence: Learning to ride a bicycle is hard, but if you keep at it, you will succeed. / The math problem is tricky, so keep at it.
Similar Expressions: Persevere / Continue working
29. Stick to the plow
Definition: To remain steadfast and hardworking at your assigned duties.
Used in a Sentence: A good worker knows how to stick to the plow until quitting time. / Stick to the plow and your garden will grow wonderfully.
Similar Expressions: Stay steadfast / Keep laboring
30. Put your shoulder to the burden
Definition: To share the responsibility of difficult labor with others.
Used in a Sentence: We all put our shoulders to the burden of cleaning the muddy park. / Helping classmates puts your shoulder to the burden of school tasks.
Similar Expressions: Share labor / Bear weight
31. Put your shoulder to the job
Definition: To dive right into employment duties with active energy.
Used in a Sentence: Put your shoulder to the job and wash those dirty windows. / He put his shoulder to the job of sorting recycling items.
Similar Expressions: Dive into work / Start task
32. Keep your shoulder to the wheel
Definition: A classic phrase meaning to maintain steady, hard work without stopping.
Used in a Sentence: Keep your shoulder to the wheel and we will finish before dark. / The builders kept their shoulders to the wheel all week.
Similar Expressions: Work steadily / Keep laboring
33. Put your nose to the paper
Definition: To concentrate intensely on writing or desk work.
Used in a Sentence: Put your nose to the paper and finish drafting your story. / Exam time requires every student to put their nose to the paper.
Similar Expressions: Focus on writing / Study intently
34. Put your back into the labor
Definition: To use physical strength to complete hard manual work.
Used in a Sentence: Shoveling winter snow requires you to put your back into the labor. / The gardeners put their backs into the labor of planting trees.
Similar Expressions: Use strength / Work physically
35. Work round the clock
Definition: To labor continuously for twenty-four hours without stopping.
Used in a Sentence: Emergency crews worked round the clock to fix the broken water pipe. / Scientists worked round the clock during the space mission launch.
Similar Expressions: Work 24/7 / Continuous labor
36. Put in a full day
Definition: To complete a standard, productive eight-hour work shift.
Used in a Sentence: Mechanics put in a full day repairing cars at the garage. / After putting in a full day at school, I like to relax.
Similar Expressions: Complete shift / Full workday
37. Earn your salt
Definition: To prove that you deserve your pay by working competently.
Used in a Sentence: The new mechanic earned his salt by fixing the tricky engine problem. / Lifeguards earn their salt by keeping swimmers safe all summer.
Similar Expressions: Prove worth / Work competently
38. Pull your weight on the team
Definition: To complete your portion of work so others do not struggle.
Used in a Sentence: Always pull your weight on the team during relay races. / He failed to pull his weight on the team, making us work extra.
Similar Expressions: Contribute share / Help out
39. Put your shoulder to the plowshare
Definition: To dedicate yourself fully to agricultural or physical work.
Used in a Sentence: Early settlers put their shoulders to the plowshare to harvest crops. / Gardening clubs put their shoulders to the plowshare in spring.
Similar Expressions: Farm labor / Dedicated toil
40. Drive the work forward
Definition: To push a project ahead with active leadership and labor.
Used in a Sentence: The student council president helped drive the work forward for the dance. / Hard work helps drive the work forward to completion.
Similar Expressions: Advance project / Push forward
41. Put your shoulder to the oars
Definition: To row hard and work actively toward a common goal.
Used in a Sentence: The crew put their shoulders to the oars to win the boat race. / We must all put our shoulders to the oars during this group assignment.
Similar Expressions: Row hard / Work together
42. Keep the shop running
Definition: To manage daily working tasks and keep operations going.
Used in a Sentence: Dad stayed late to keep the shop running while his partner rested. / Teachers work hard to keep the classroom running smoothly.
Similar Expressions: Manage daily work / Operate business
43. Put your shoulder to the cart
Definition: To help push a heavy workload forward with physical effort.
Used in a Sentence: Everyone grabbed a corner to put their shoulder to the cart of chores. / We put our shoulders to the cart of organizing the fundraiser.
Similar Expressions: Push workload / Help labor
44. Stay on the job
Definition: To remain focused and working until your shift is over.
Used in a Sentence: Security guards must stay on the job throughout the night. / Stay on the job until every last chair is put away.
Similar Expressions: Remain working / Stay focused
45. Put your shoulder to the harness
Definition: To buckle down and start working steadily like a draft animal.
Used in a Sentence: It is time to put your shoulder to the harness and study. / The students put their shoulders to the harness for exam review.
Similar Expressions: Buckle down / Start toil
46. Put your shoulder to the yoke
Definition: To accept hard work and labor duties without complaining.
Used in a Sentence: Pioneers put their shoulders to the yoke to build new homes. / We put our shoulders to the yoke of cleaning the gymnasium.
Similar Expressions: Accept labor / Toil silently
47. Put your shoulder to the engine
Definition: To add your energy and labor to drive a project forward.
Used in a Sentence: Every volunteer put their shoulder to the engine of the charity drive. / Working together puts your shoulder to the engine of success.
Similar Expressions: Add energy / Drive success
48. Put your shoulder to the project
Definition: To commit your personal labor to finishing an assignment.
Used in a Sentence: Put your shoulder to the project and let us finish painting. / She put her shoulder to the project of baking cupcakes.
Similar Expressions: Commit labor / Finish assignment
49. Put your shoulder to the enterprise
Definition: To invest your hard work into a business or group goal.
Used in a Sentence: The partners put their shoulders to the enterprise of opening a bookstore. / Young entrepreneurs put their shoulders to the enterprise of selling crafts.
Similar Expressions: Invest labor / Build business
50. Put your shoulder to the endeavor
Definition: To dedicate your time and physical effort to a major goal.
Used in a Sentence: We put our shoulders to the endeavor of planting a community forest. / Scientists put their shoulders to the endeavor of space exploration.
Similar Expressions: Dedicate toil / Commit effort
Exercise to Practice
- Scrubbing the kitchen floor clean required a lot of elbow grease.
- If we want to finish building the treehouse, we need to put our shoulder to the wheel.
- She kept her nose to the grindstone all afternoon to finish her essay.
- Let us roll up our sleeves and paint the living room walls purple while sleeping.
- He was burning the midnight oil to prepare for his science finals.
- Everyone on the soccer team must sit down and relax during practice drills.
- Put your back into lifting that heavy box of books.
- Put your shoulder into opening the stuck wooden door with your fingers.
- Leo wanted to hit the ground running on his first day at the community garden.
- We had to put the pedal to the metal to finish our posters before noon.
- Farming requires farmers to put their shoulder to the plow every morning.
- Once you start the art mural, you must sit on the couch until it is done.
- I spent hours grinding away at the complex math division problems.
- The supervisor told the new apprentices to keep their noses clean.
- My grandfather worked hard every day to make an honest living.
Answer Key
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
Conclusion
Learning these idioms helps you describe working hard and putting in effort in creative and colorful ways. Expanding your everyday vocabulary makes your stories and conversations much more engaging for everyone around you.
Try using one or two of these expressions the next time you talk with your classmates or family members. You will see how much fun it is to express your tasks using vivid English phrases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common idioms for working?
Common idioms include phrases like elbow grease, nose to the grindstone, and roll up your sleeves. These expressions give a clear picture of labor, effort, and staying busy.
Why do we use idioms in English?
Idioms make our language more vibrant, colorful, and fun to speak. Instead of plain descriptions, they let us share feelings and actions in creative ways.
How can I practice using idioms easily?
You can practice by picking one new idiom each day and using it in a sentence with a friend. Writing short stories or making up funny sentences also helps you remember them.
Are idioms difficult for beginners to learn?
Not at all, especially when you learn them through relatable topics like chores and schoolwork. Context and example sentences make it easy to understand what they mean right away.
Can I use these idioms in school writing?
Yes, using idioms can make your stories and essays much more creative and fun to read. Just make sure you use them correctly so your meaning is clear to your teacher.
