nose to the grindstone

English

Etymology

First attested 1532, from John Frith's A Mirror to know Thyself:

"This Text holdeth their noses so hard to the grindstone, that it clean disfigureth their faces."

Adverb

(with) nose to the grindstone

1. (idiomatic) Hard at work.

   Nose to the grindstone, he was up all night.

Verb

keep/put/have/hold one's nose to the grindstone

1. (idiomatic) To work hard, or focus heavily on work.

   If he'd keep his nose to the grindstone a bit more, he could be a pretty good student.