nose to the grindstone
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From the literal action of intensely working a grindstone, whether powered by a treadle or waterwheel. The expression initially implied punishment or abusive management, forcing the worker into intense work, and was used in the anonymous 1557 translation of Erasmus's Merry Dialogue as a hyperbolic punishment threatened for an abusive husband. It was later adapted to forcing oneself into similarly intense effort.
Noun[edit]
nose to the grindstone (plural noses to the grindstone or noses to grindstones)
- (idiomatic, obsolete) Used to form idioms meaning "to force someone to work hard or to focus intensely upon their work".
- a. 1533, John Frith, A Mirrour or Glasse to Know Thyselfe, sig. Avi v:
- This Text holdeth their noses so hard to the grynde stone that it clean disfigureth their faces.
- 1546, John Heywood, A Dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in Effect of All the Prouerbes in the Englishe Tongue, sig. Bii:
- 1786, Robert Burns, Poems, page 188:
- a. 1533, John Frith, A Mirrour or Glasse to Know Thyselfe, sig. Avi v:
- (idiomatic) Used to form idioms meaning "to force oneself to work hard or to focus intensely upon one's work".
- 1828, Lights & Shades of English Life, volume II, page 13:
- People whose heads are a little up in the world, have no occasion to keep their nose to the grindstone.
- 1886 [1882], Henry James, The Point of View[1], London: Macmillan and Co.:
- I travelled energetically; I went everywhere and saw everything; took as many letters as possible, and made as many acquaintances. In short, I held my nose to the grindstone.
- 2001 August 26, Garrison Keillor, “In Search of Lake Wobegon”, in The New York Times[2], →ISSN:
- Thirty years ago, I lived in Stearns County with my wife and little boy in a rented farmhouse south of Freeport, an area of nose-to-the-grindstone German Catholics proud of their redneck reputation.
Usage notes[edit]
Variously placed after the verbs keep, put, bring, have, hold, &c. or used as a substantive adjective.
Synonyms[edit]
- (apply oneself): see strive
Translations[edit]
Translations
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Adverb[edit]
nose to the grindstone (not comparable)
Synonyms[edit]
- head down, bum up (UK)
References[edit]
- “grindstone, n.”, in OED Online , Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2021.
- Helterbran, Valeri R. Exploring Idioms (2008), p. 67.
- Lee, Kaiman. Cartoon-Illustrated Metaphors (2004), p. 84.