💪 To Work Your Fingers to the Bone: When Hard Work Gets Hyperbolic 🦴
Description: To work extremely hard. This hyperbole, with its image of working the skin and flesh off one’s fingers, dates from the nineteenth century.
Historical Context:
- 17th Century: The idiom “to work like a horse” was an earlier way to describe significant effort. Jonathan Swift used this version in his Journal to Stella (1710).
- 18th Century: The phrase “to work like a galley-slave” emerged, painting a vivid picture of extreme labor.
- 19th Century: The Americanized and offensive version “to work like a nigger” was unfortunately coined.
Related Terms:
- Workaholic: Refers to someone addicted to work, akin to excessive hard work but without the gory imagery.
- Burn the midnight oil: To work late into the night, it’s less harsh but still speaks to extreme effort.
- Roll up your sleeves: To prepare for hard work or a challenging task.
Similar Phrases and Idioms:
- “Breaking one’s back”: Not literally, of course. This depicts exerting immense physical effort.
- “Burning the candle at both ends”: Working so hard and late that one barely gets any rest.
- “Giving 110%”: Slightly absurd mathematically speaking, but effectively conveys extraordinary effort.
Literary and Cultural References:
- Jonathan Swift’s Journal to Stella (1710): “Lord Wharton… is working like a horse for elections.”
- Modern Inspirational Literature:
- Work Like An Artist by Austin Kleon: Focusing on creativity, persistence, and hard work.
- The Lean Startup by Eric Ries: Talks about putting in the hard work to build innovative businesses.
Songs:
- “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton: A catchy song capturing the essence of daily hard work.
- “Work Hard, Play Hard” by Wiz Khalifa: Shine a light on intense work punctuated by equally intense leisure.
Movies:
- “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006): A story about an individual’s unwavering hard work and determination.
- “Rocky” (1976): Capturing the essence of hard work in its iconic training scenes.
Example Use:
“After launching her startup, Julia’s been working her fingers to the bone, hoping to see her efforts pay off.”
Fictitious Author’s Note:
L. Dexter Wordsmith will inspire you to recognize the myriad ways we express the notion of working extremely hard. By diving into the origins of these clichés and their creative spin-offs, you’ll find new appreciation for your own toil and dedication.
Inspirational Thought-Provoking Farewell:
As we harness the power of language to understand hard work, let us remember that effort, no matter how intense, paves the way toward our dreams. So, march on with resilience, humor, and that indefatigable spirit of yours!
Stay witty and work wisely,
L. Dexter Wordsmith
