Work expressions capture the challenges, accomplishments, and dynamics of professional life. Here are 20 idioms and phrasal verbs about work.
Work Expressions
- Burn the midnight oil
- Meaning: Work late into the night.
- Example: I’ve been burning the midnight oil studying.
- Break one’s back
- Meaning: Work extremely hard.
- Example: He broke his back to finish the project.
- Pull your weight
- Meaning: Do your fair share of work.
- Example: Everyone needs to pull their weight here.
- Climb the corporate ladder
- Meaning: Work towards higher positions.
- Example: He’s trying to climb the corporate ladder.
- Hit the ground running
- Meaning: Start a job quickly and effectively.
- Example: New employees must hit the ground running.
- Put your nose to the grindstone
- Meaning: Focus on hard work.
- Example: She put her nose to the grindstone.
- Learn the ropes
- Meaning: Learn how to do a job.
- Example: It took her a while to learn the ropes.
- Think outside the box
- Meaning: Approach work problems creatively.
- Example: We need to think outside the box.
- Put in overtime
- Meaning: Work extra hours beyond the usual.
- Example: He’s been putting in overtime lately.
- Work one’s fingers to the bone
- Meaning: Work very hard for a long time.
- Example: She worked her fingers to the bone.
- Back to the drawing board
- Meaning: Start over after a failure.
- Example: We need to go back to the drawing board.
- Carry the weight
- Meaning: Handle the responsibility alone.
- Example: He carried the weight of the project.
- Go the extra mile
- Meaning: Make extra efforts in work.
- Example: She always goes the extra mile.
- Call it a day
- Meaning: Stop working for the day.
- Example: It’s 6 PM; let’s call it a day.
- Cut corners
- Meaning: Do something in a quicker but lower quality way.
- Example: Don’t cut corners on this project.
- Give it your best shot
- Meaning: Try your hardest.
- Example: Just give it your best shot!
- In the same boat
- Meaning: Share the same difficult situation.
- Example: We’re all in the same boat.
- Buckle down
- Meaning: Start working seriously.
- Example: It’s time to buckle down and study.
- Work out the kinks
- Meaning: Solve minor issues.
- Example: We’re working out the kinks in the system.
- Work hand in glove
- Meaning: Work very closely together.
- Example: The two teams work hand in glove.
