By the sweat of one’s brow - By hard work. This timeless expression originates from the Bible, stemming from God’s punishment of Adam, making him toil for his sustenance. It’s spelled out clearly in Genesis 3:19: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” Later articulated by John Donne in 1624, this phrase resonates through the ages as a symbol of laborious effort and the fruits it bears.
Related Terms and Expressions
- Blood, sweat, and tears: Extreme effort or suffering to achieve something.
- Burning the midnight oil: Working late into the night.
- Pulling oneself up by one’s bootstraps: Improving one’s situation by one’s own efforts.
- Grinding away: Working hard continuously and diligently.
- Toiling in the vineyards: Working hard, especially at unglamorous or difficult tasks.
Synonyms
- Hard work
- Effort
- Labor
- Toil
Antonyms
- Laziness
- Sloth
- Indolence
- Leisure
Humor-filled Quotes
- “I’m on a whiskey diet. I’ve lost three days already.” - Tommy Cooper 😂
- “I’m allergic to work, but I don’t carry an EpiPen because I’m just trying to take out the weak ones.”
Thought-Provoking Quotes
- “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” - Tommy Lasorda
- “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” - Vidal Sassoon
Recommended Literature and Media:
- Books:
- Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
- The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
- Songs:
- “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor
- “Working for a Living” by Huey Lewis & The News
- Movies:
- Rocky (1976)
- The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
- Poetry:
- “If—” by Rudyard Kipling
- “To Be of Use” by Marge Piercy
### Which of these is a real idiom for hard work?
- [x] By the sweat of one’s brow
- [ ] Running with dandelions
- [ ] Flying with rainbow wings
- [ ] Drowning in dreams
> **Explanation:** "By the sweat of one’s brow" is a well-known idiom that means through hard work and effort. The others? Purely playful inventions!
### Which phrase correctly expresses working very hard?
- [ ] Floating on soft pillows
- [x] Burning the midnight oil
- [ ] Dancing on a rainbow
- [ ] Laughing in the sun
> **Explanation:** "Burning the midnight oil" is a genuine expression for working late into the night, while the other choices are dreamy concoctions.
### True or False: 'Blood, sweat, and tears' implies extreme effort.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True! "Blood, sweat, and tears" signifies giving it all you’ve got, implying hard work and extreme efforts.
With every drop of sweat, remember that each one counts in shaping your journey and destination. Hard work today turns into success tomorrow. Stay inspired and keep grinding!
Thank you for joining this linguistic journey! May your efforts and sweat weave the fabric of triumph. Until next time, perspire and inspire!
