shoe-leather

Meanings

1. Leather that is used to make shoes.
2. Leather from which shoes are made that is worn out through walking.
3. The sweat of one's brow; effort; investigatory effort.
4. Tough meat, especially cheap meat.

1. Basic, old-fashioned or traditional; specifically (journalism) shoe-leather journalism or shoe-leather reporting: journalism involving walking from place to place observing things and speaking to people, rather than sitting indoors at a desk.

Etymology

From shoe + leather.