Hard work is the foundation of success, determination, and perseverance. Whether you’re grinding away at a demanding job, pushing yourself to meet a deadline, or striving for excellence, the way we describe hard work matters.
Idioms add color and depth to our language, making conversations more engaging and expressive. Using the right idiom can help convey dedication, effort, and passion in a powerful way.
In this article, we’ll explore 20 idioms for working hard, providing definitions, examples, and explanations to help you use them naturally. So, let’s dive in and enrich our vocabulary with these meaningful expressions!
What is an Idiom?
An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning different from its literal interpretation. Idioms help us express ideas creatively and make conversations more engaging.
When it comes to describing hard work, idioms allow us to communicate effort, persistence, and dedication in a vivid way.
List of Idioms for Working Hard
- Burn the Midnight Oil
- Put Your Nose to the Grindstone
- Roll Up Your Sleeves
- Work Your Fingers to the Bone
- Break Your Back
- Sweat Blood
- Go the Extra Mile
- Bust a Gut
- Keep Your Nose to the Grindstone
- Pull Out All the Stops
- Move Heaven and Earth
- Bend Over Backwards
- Give It Your All
- Leave No Stone Unturned
- Work Like a Dog
- Grind Away
- Blood, Sweat, and Tears
- Give 110%
- Hit the Ground Running
- Make Hay While the Sun Shines
1. Burn the Midnight Oil
When someone is working late into the night, they are said to “burn the midnight oil.”
Definition: This idiom means to work late into the night, often with great effort and dedication.
In a Sentence: Lisa had to burn the midnight oil to finish her project before the deadline.
Example: A college student preparing for final exams might stay up all night studying, saying, “I have to burn the midnight oil to pass this test.”
Explanation: This phrase originates from the past when people used oil lamps to work late at night. It signifies dedication and hard work beyond regular hours.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Work late into the night
- Stay up working
- Put in extra hours
- Work past bedtime
- Keep the lights on
2. Put Your Nose to the Grindstone
This idiom is used when someone is working with intense focus and dedication.
Definition: It means to work very hard, often for a long time, without distraction.
In a Sentence: If you want to succeed, you must put your nose to the grindstone and stay committed.
Example: An athlete training for the Olympics spends hours practicing every day, truly putting their nose to the grindstone.
Explanation: The phrase comes from the idea of sharpening tools on a grindstone, which requires close attention and effort. It signifies hard work and perseverance.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Focus on the task
- Work with dedication
- Push yourself
- Keep your head down
- Stay committed
3. Roll Up Your Sleeves
This idiom is about preparing for hard work with determination.
Definition: It means to get ready to work hard, usually on a challenging task.
In a Sentence: Before the big event, the team had to roll up their sleeves and start preparing.
Example: A restaurant owner preparing for a busy night might say, “We have a full house tonight, so let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work!”
Explanation: The phrase originates from physically rolling up one’s sleeves before starting physical labor, symbolizing preparation and effort.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Get to work
- Brace yourself
- Get your hands dirty
- Dive in
- Put in the effort
4. Work Your Fingers to the Bone
This idiom describes intense and exhausting labor.
Definition: It means to work extremely hard, often to the point of exhaustion.
In a Sentence: She worked her fingers to the bone to provide for her family.
Example: A nurse pulling long shifts at the hospital is truly working her fingers to the bone.
Explanation: This phrase emphasizes tireless dedication and hard work, often at the cost of personal well-being.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Work tirelessly
- Push yourself to the limit
- Work to exhaustion
- Give it your all
- Overwork yourself
5. Break Your Back
This idiom is used when someone works extremely hard, especially in physical labor.
Definition: It means to put in a lot of effort, often more than required.
In a Sentence: He broke his back trying to finish the construction project on time.
Example: A farmer working long hours in the fields is truly breaking his back to get the job done.
Explanation: This phrase highlights intensive labor that requires extreme effort and dedication.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Work extremely hard
- Go the extra mile
- Push yourself to the limit
- Give it your all
- Work beyond capacity
6. Sweat Blood
This idiom conveys working with extreme effort and dedication.
Definition: It means to work very hard, often sacrificing a lot in the process.
In a Sentence: He sweat blood to make his business successful.
Example: An author spending years writing a novel is truly sweating blood over their work.
Explanation: This phrase emphasizes painstaking effort and great struggle in achieving success.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Work tirelessly
- Struggle to succeed
- Put your all into it
- Sacrifice for success
- Push through difficulties
7. Go the Extra Mile
This idiom describes doing more than expected.
Definition: It means to put in additional effort to achieve something.
In a Sentence: Good employees always go the extra mile to satisfy their customers.
Example: A teacher staying after school to help struggling students is truly going the extra mile.
Explanation: The phrase emphasizes doing more than required to achieve excellence.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Give 110%
- Exceed expectations
- Do more than necessary
- Push beyond limits
- Put in extra effort
8. Bust a Gut
This idiom is used when someone puts in maximum effort to complete a task.
Definition: It means to work extremely hard, often with great strain.
In a Sentence: He busted a gut trying to complete the project before the deadline.
Example: A construction worker lifting heavy loads all day is busting a gut to get the job done.
Explanation: This phrase emphasizes straining oneself physically or mentally to achieve a goal.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Work extremely hard
- Push yourself to the limit
- Give it your all
- Struggle to succeed
- Work to exhaustion
9. Keep Your Nose to the Grindstone
This idiom encourages continuous focus and effort on a task.
Definition: It means to work hard consistently and stay focused.
In a Sentence: If you want to succeed in law school, you need to keep your nose to the grindstone.
Example: A medical student studying every day without breaks is truly keeping their nose to the grindstone.
Explanation: This phrase originates from sharpening blades on a grindstone, representing diligence and persistence.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Stay focused
- Work diligently
- Keep your head down
- Work consistently
- Be dedicated
10. Pull Out All the Stops
This idiom refers to making every possible effort to achieve success.
Definition: It means to do everything you can to accomplish something.
In a Sentence: The marketing team pulled out all the stops to make the campaign a success.
Example: A chef preparing for a prestigious competition will pull out all the stops to impress the judges.
Explanation: This phrase originates from organ music, where pulling out stops increases volume, symbolizing maximum effort.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Give it your all
- Leave no stone unturned
- Make every effort
- Go all out
- Do whatever it takes
11. Move Heaven and Earth
This idiom suggests doing everything possible to achieve a goal.
Definition: It means to make an extreme effort to accomplish something.
In a Sentence: She moved heaven and earth to ensure her son got the best education.
Example: A scientist working tirelessly to find a cure for a disease is moving heaven and earth for medical progress.
Explanation: This phrase emphasizes going beyond normal effort, even attempting the impossible.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Do everything possible
- Make every effort
- Go all out
- Leave no stone unturned
- Struggle to achieve
12. Bend Over Backwards
This idiom means putting in extra effort to help or achieve something.
Definition: It means to make an extraordinary effort, often to accommodate others.
In a Sentence: The teacher bent over backwards to help her students pass the exam.
Example: A company offering exceptional customer service is bending over backwards for their clients.
Explanation: This phrase highlights going beyond usual limits to achieve success.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Go out of your way
- Make a great effort
- Do whatever it takes
- Go the extra mile
- Put in extra effort
13. Give It Your All
This idiom refers to putting maximum effort into something.
Definition: It means to do your very best to achieve something.
In a Sentence: The team gave it their all to win the championship.
Example: A musician practicing for a concert with complete dedication is giving it their all.
Explanation: This phrase emphasizes total commitment and effort.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Put in full effort
- Try your hardest
- Do your best
- Give 100%
- Go all out
14. Leave No Stone Unturned
This idiom means to explore every possibility to achieve a goal.
Definition: It means to make every possible effort to find a solution or succeed.
In a Sentence: The detectives left no stone unturned in their search for clues.
Example: A job seeker applying to every possible company is leaving no stone unturned in their search.
Explanation: This phrase originates from searching under every stone for hidden things, symbolizing thoroughness.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Try everything possible
- Exhaust all options
- Do a thorough job
- Explore every avenue
- Search everywhere
15. Work Like a Dog
This idiom describes intense hard work and effort.
Definition: It means to work very hard, often without rest.
In a Sentence: He worked like a dog to build his company from scratch.
Example: A delivery driver working long hours every day is working like a dog.
Explanation: This phrase comes from dogs being used for heavy labor, representing hard and tiring work.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Work tirelessly
- Put in long hours
- Work to exhaustion
- Give it your all
- Push yourself to the limit
16. Grind Away
This idiom refers to working persistently on something difficult.
Definition: It means to work hard continuously, often on a difficult or tedious task.
In a Sentence: He kept grinding away at his studies until he passed the exam.
Example: A software developer coding late into the night is grinding away to finish a project.
Explanation: The word “grind” suggests continuous effort, like grinding grain into flour, which takes time and persistence.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Work tirelessly
- Push through
- Keep at it
- Stick with it
- Stay persistent
17. Blood, Sweat, and Tears
This idiom expresses extreme effort, sacrifice, and dedication.
Definition: It means to put in a great amount of effort, hard work, and struggle.
In a Sentence: He put his blood, sweat, and tears into building his dream home.
Example: A startup founder working day and night to grow their business is giving blood, sweat, and tears to succeed.
Explanation: This phrase suggests giving everything you have—physical effort, emotional dedication, and persistence—to achieve something.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Work with full dedication
- Give it your all
- Sacrifice for success
- Put in maximum effort
- Struggle to achieve
18. Give 110%
This idiom describes going beyond normal effort to achieve success.
Definition: It means to give more effort than expected or required.
In a Sentence: The team gave 110% to win the championship.
Example: An actor rehearsing for months before a big performance is truly giving 110% to their craft.
Explanation: While technically giving more than 100% isn’t possible, the phrase symbolizes extreme effort and total dedication.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Go above and beyond
- Push beyond limits
- Put in extra effort
- Work with full passion
- Leave nothing behind
19. Hit the Ground Running
This idiom means to start working hard immediately without hesitation.
Definition: It means to begin a task with great energy and enthusiasm.
In a Sentence: The new manager hit the ground running and improved the company’s sales in just a month.
Example: A college graduate starting their first job with confidence and motivation is hitting the ground running.
Explanation: This phrase originates from running at full speed as soon as your feet touch the ground, representing quick action and efficiency.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Start strong
- Jump right in
- Get moving quickly
- Begin with full energy
- Take immediate action
20. Make Hay While the Sun Shines
This idiom encourages taking advantage of opportunities while they last.
Definition: It means to work hard and make the most of a good situation before it ends.
In a Sentence: The freelancer took on as many projects as possible—he knew he had to make hay while the sun shines.
Example: A farmer harvesting crops during good weather is literally making hay while the sun shines.
Explanation: This phrase originates from farming, where hay must be dried in sunlight before rain comes. It reminds us to work hard when conditions are favorable.
Other Ways to Say It:
- Seize the opportunity
- Take advantage of good times
- Work while you can
- Act while conditions are right
- Don’t waste time
Other Ways to Say “Idioms for Working Hard”
- Expressions for Hard Work
- Phrases About Dedication and Effort
- Common Sayings for Working Hard
- Figurative Language for Determination
- Work Ethic Idioms
Final Thoughts
Hard work is an essential part of achieving success, and using idioms can make our language more expressive and relatable. These 20 idioms capture different aspects of dedication, perseverance, and effort.
Whether you’re describing your own hard work or appreciating someone else’s, these phrases can help you communicate with warmth and authenticity.
FAQs
1. Why should I use idioms for working hard?
Idioms make language more engaging and help express effort in a more vivid and creative way.
2. Are these idioms used in everyday conversations?
Yes, many of these idioms are commonly used in both casual and professional settings.
3. Can I use these idioms in writing?
Absolutely! These idioms can enhance storytelling, speeches, and even professional emails.
4. Are idioms different in British and American English?
Some idioms may vary, but most of these are understood in both American and British English.
5. How can I learn to use idioms naturally?
Practice using them in conversations, writing, and by paying attention to how native speakers use them.
Emma Rose is the creator and writer behind Grammer Guru, a platform dedicated to enhancing grammar, writing, and communication skills. With a passion for language and a knack for breaking down complex rules into simple, practical advice, Emma helps writers, students, and professionals refine their skills with confidence.
