a workhorse
Meaning: A person or machine that does a large amount of hard, reliable work.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “That old van has been the workhorse of the business for twenty years.”
Category: Animals
Origin: A horse used for labor rather than riding or racing. The figurative sense is found from the 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Une bête de somme — literally: A beast of burden
More idioms — Animals
- bite the hand that feeds you — To harm or insult someone who helps you.
- in two shakes of a lamb's tail — Very quickly.
- the bee's knees — Something or someone excellent.
- at a snail's pace — Very slowly.
- the lean years — A period of hardship and scarcity.
- worship the golden calf — To value money and wealth above everything.
More English idioms
- deaf as a post — Completely deaf.
- ugly as sin — Very ugly.
- terra firma — Solid ground, as opposed to the sea or the air.
- the sandman is coming — It's time to sleep; someone is getting sleepy.
- soaked to the skin — Completely wet.
- cash on the nail — Payment made immediately.
From our false friends
- Oldtimer — Actually means 'vintage car' or 'classic aircraft'. A veteran person is ein Veteran.
- Camera — Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
- Pretendere — Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.