make short work of something

Meaning: To deal with or finish something quickly.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Example: “The hungry hikers made short work of the pizza.”

Category: Daily Life

Origin: "Short work" means work soon done. The phrase is recorded from the 16th century.

Equivalents in other languages

you've made your bed, now lie in it — You must accept the consequences of your own choices.
an uphill battle — A long, difficult struggle.
Pédaler dans la semoule — To be confused and getting nowhere.
Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter — To have more important things to do.
Avoir le cul entre deux chaises — To be indecisive, caught between two options.
Les carottes sont cuites — It's too late, nothing can be done.

be put out to pasture — To be retired or set aside as no longer useful.
The last straw that broke the camel's back — The final small burden that causes a total collapse.
To have a frog in your throat — To have difficulty speaking due to hoarseness.
It's raining cats and dogs — It's raining extremely heavily.
To have butterflies in your stomach — To feel nervous excitement.
Bob's your uncle — And there you have it; simple as that.

Store is no sore. — Abundance acquired through prudent saving prevents the pain of future scarcity and want.
Straight trees have crooked roots. — Trees growing perfectly upright often develop twisted root systems compensating for soil…
No striving against the stream. — Futile effort exhausts you; accepting circumstances' natural flow preserves energy for wh…