🐝 Busy Bees: Working Your Tail Off and Other Industrious Idioms 🚀
“Work one’s tail off, to”: To work very hard. This inelegant locution dates from the first half of the twentieth century. James Farrell used it in Studs Lonigan (1932–35): “This idea of sweating your tail off with work.” It also is put as to work one’s ass or butt off. See also break/bust one’s ass.
Synonyms
- Work like a dog
- Sweat bullets
- Burn the midnight oil 🔥
- Break one’s back
- Pull out all the stops
- Give 110%
Antonyms
- Take it easy
- Loaf around
- Kick back 🍹
- Slack off 😴
- Take a breather
Humorous Quotes
“Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?” —Edgar Bergen.
“By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day.” —Robert Frost.
Related Proverbs
- No pain, no gain 💪
- The early bird catches the worm 🐦
- Many hands make light work 🤲
- Where there’s a will, there’s a way
References in Literature
- Studs Lonigan by James T. Farrell
- The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway (Santiago large-scale struggle)
- Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (10,000-hour rule)
Songs Celebrating Hard Work
- “Workin’ for a Livin’” by Huey Lewis & The News
- “Working Class Hero” by John Lennon
- “She Works Hard for the Money” by Donna Summer 🎶
Inspirational Farewell
“Remember, even bees take a break now and then, but they always return to their hives with a story of honey. Keep pushing those limits, but don’t forget to enjoy the sweet moments. Until next time, stay buzzworthy!”
### Which phrase signifies working very hard?
- [x] Work one’s tail off
- [ ] Sit tight and relax
- [ ] Dig in one’s heels
- [ ] Bend over backwards
> **Explanation:** "Work one’s tail off" suggests putting in a significant amount of hard work.
### True or False: "Sweat bullets" means to do minimal work.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "Sweat bullets" means to work very hard, often with a significant amount of stress.
### Which idiom is synonymous with "work one's tail off"?
- [ ] Rest on one's laurels
- [x] Burn the midnight oil
- [ ] Throw in the towel
- [ ] Be a couch potato
> **Explanation:** "Burn the midnight oil" refers to working late into the night, analogous to working very hard.
### What is an antonym of "work one's tail off"?
- [x] Kick back
- [ ] Bust one’s ass
- [ ] Put one’s nose to the grindstone
- [ ] Push the envelope
> **Explanation:** "Kick back" means to relax and take it easy, which is the opposite of working hard.
