C1idiominformalworkIELTS-friendly
keep your nose to the grindstone
USUK
to work hard for a long time without stopping
Change 'your' to my, his, her and so on. Neutral to approving; a grindstone is a stone wheel for sharpening tools.
In context
If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you'll finish the thesis by June.
She kept her nose to the grindstone for three years and saved enough for a flat.
More idioms about work
- a baptism of firea very difficult first experience of a new job or activity
- a cushy joba job that is easy and pleasant but still pays well
- a dead-end joba job with no chance of promotion or of learning anything new
- a jack of all tradesa person who can do many different kinds of work fairly well
- a labour of lovehard work that you do because you enjoy it or care about it, not for money