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Processed with VS1Talk about sustained effort, concentration, and the need to balance work with rest.
VOA source audio
Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptThis episode explores an idiom for working with sustained effort and looks at possible origins connected with old workshops. The exact history is uncertain, but the image of someone bent over careful work helps explain the phrase.
Cultural note: “Keep your nose to the grindstone” praises persistence, but it can also suggest overwork. The expression is best used for a demanding stretch of effort, not as advice to ignore health, rest, or other responsibilities.
Keep exploringThe idiom sounds like a physical instruction, but it describes focus and persistence. Listen for how the image shifts from a workshop to a modern deadline.
Phrase guide · 4 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Describe continuing to work carefully toward a goal.
Meaning
Work steadily and seriously for a long time, especially on a demanding task.
Tone & use
Informal and often approving, though it can imply a long, tiring stretch. “Put your nose to the grindstone” can sound like advice.
Example
“With the grant deadline approaching, the research team kept its nose to the grindstone all week.”
Meaning
Begin focusing seriously on difficult work.
Tone & use
Often used as a suggestion or instruction. Depending on tone, it may sound encouraging or demanding.
Example
“I’ve enjoyed the first week of the course; now I need to put my nose to the grindstone and finish the project.”
Talk about effort without implying that people should work endlessly.
Meaning
A situation with work but too little recreation or rest.
Tone & use
Usually appears in the saying “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” The saying is a reminder about balance, not a literal rule.
Example
“The team scheduled a picnic after the launch so the month wouldn’t be all work and no play.”
Meaning
Stop working or doing an activity for a short time so you can rest.
Tone & use
Common and neutral in everyday and workplace conversation. It can refer to a brief pause or a longer rest, depending on context.
Example
“You’ve been reviewing these slides for hours—take a break and look at them again later.”
Knowledge check
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