Phrase guide

nose to the grindstone

adv · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adv

Meaning 1

Hard at work.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable

Examples

  • Nose to the grindstone, he was up all night.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Used to form idioms meaning "to force someone to work hard or to focus intensely upon their work".

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Used to form idioms meaning "to force oneself to work hard or to focus intensely upon one's work".

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: see at strive

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the literal action of intensely working a grindstone, whether powered by a treadle or waterwheel. The expression initially implied punishment or abusive management, forcing the worker into intense work, and was used in the anonymous translation (1557) of Erasmus's Merry Dialogue as a hyperbolic punishment threatened for an abusive husband. It was later adapted to forcing oneself into similarly intense effort.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: niska limassa (with paiskia/painaa töitä, raataa) — Translations
  • Finnish: herkeämättä — Translations
  • Finnish: hartiavoimin — Translations
  • German: sich dahinterklemmen — Translations
  • German: sich abschinden — Translations
  • German: sich abrackern — Translations
  • Italian: lavoratore incallito — Translations
  • Italian: lavoratore indefesso — Translations
  • Polish: pilna praca — Translations
  • Spanish: dar el callo — Translations
  • Spanish: andar a la brega — Translations