English Explanatory Dictionary

nose to the grindstone

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Used to form idioms meaning "to force someone to work hard or to focus intensely upon their work".
  2. Used to form idioms meaning "to force oneself to work hard or to focus intensely upon one's work".
adv
  1. Hard at work.

Word forms

nose to the grindstone noses to the grindstone noses to grindstones

Etymology

From the literal action of intensely working a grindstone, whether powered by a treadle or waterwheel. The expression initially implied punishment or abusive management, forcing the worker into intense work, and was used in the anonymous translation (1557) of Erasmus's Merry Dialogue as a hyperbolic punishment threatened for an abusive husband. It was later adapted to forcing oneself into similarly intense effort.

Synonyms

see at strive head down, bum up

Related words

daily grind

Translations

Finnish: niska limassa (with paiskia/painaa töitä, raataa) Finnish: herkeämättä Finnish: hartiavoimin German: sich dahinterklemmen German: sich abschinden German: sich abrackern Italian: lavoratore incallito Italian: lavoratore indefesso Polish: pilna praca Spanish: dar el callo Spanish: andar a la brega
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