Home › Idioms

keep one's nose to the grindstone

Meaning: To work hard without rest.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: The expression usually refers to monotonous work.

More idioms — Body & Senses

  • knee-high to a grasshopper — Very young.
  • laugh all the way to the bank — To be proved right or successful in the face of scorn, particularly as regards money.
  • lead someone around by the nose — To dominate someone; to force someone to do something.
  • lend someone an ear — To listen to someone.
  • like water off a duck's back — Having no effect on someone.
  • look down one's nose at someone or something — To be snobbish about someone or something.

More English idioms

  • make one's blood boil — To cause someone to become extremely angry.
  • make one's mouth water — To make one salivate in anticipation of something good.
  • millstone around one's neck — A burden or handicap, or a source of worry or concern.
  • more than meets the eye — Some hidden aspect to a situation.
  • neck of the woods — An area; a place.
  • need something like one needs a hole in the head — To have absolutely no need for something.

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…