Work Idioms
Agnes
British English
William
British English
Olivia
American English
James
American English
Charlotte
AUS English
Amaia
NZ English
Lethabo
SA English
Geetha
IND English
1. Work your fingers to the bone
This idiom means to work very hard, often to the point of exhaustion.
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She worked her fingers to the bone to finish the project on time
He has been working his fingers to the bone for years to support his family
Despite working her fingers to the bone, she still couldn't make ends meet
The chef worked his fingers to the bone preparing the meal for the customers
He was exhausted from working his fingers to the bone on the construction site all day
2. Burn the midnight oil
This idiom means to work late into the night, usually on a project or assignment with a deadline.
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In order to meet the deadline, they had to burn the midnight oil and work late into the night
She burned the midnight oil studying for the exam and it paid off with a good grade
The team burned the midnight oil to get the project finished on time
He had to burn the midnight oil to finish his presentation for the meeting the next day
The author burned the midnight oil to finish the final chapter of the book
3. In the hot seat
This idiom means to be in a position of responsibility or accountability, often under pressure or scrutiny.
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The CEO was in the hot seat after the company's stock price plummeted
When the company lost a major contract, the sales manager found herself in the hot seat
The coach was in the hot seat after his team lost several games in a row
The politician was in the hot seat during the debate, answering tough questions from the moderator
After a controversial decision, the judge found herself in the hot seat with the media and the public
4. Against the clock
This idiom means to work against a tight deadline or time constraint, often feeling rushed or pressured.
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The team was racing against the clock to finish the project before the deadline
He was working against the clock to repair the car before the race started
The doctors were working against the clock to save the patient's life
They had to work against the clock to evacuate the building before the fire spread
The chef was working against the clock to get the meal cooked and served before the restaurant closed
5. Work your way up/work your way to the top
This idiom means to start at a lower position or level and gradually advance through hard work and dedication.
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She started as an intern and worked her way up to a management position
He worked his way up from the bottom of the company to become the CEO
In order to become a successful lawyer, you have to work your way up the ranks
He knew he wanted to be a professional athlete, so he worked his way up through the minor leagues
She worked her way to the top of the music industry, starting out as a backup singer and eventually becoming a superstar
6. Work like a dog
This idiom means to work very hard, often with little rest or break, and usually for an extended period of time.
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He was working like a dog to finish the project on time
The team was working like a dog to win the championship
She had been working like a dog all week and was ready for a break
The farmer worked like a dog from sunrise to sunset to tend to his crops and animals
The construction workers were working like dogs in the hot sun to finish the building on schedule
