Working hard is such a beautiful thing. It shows how much we care about what we do and how we keep trying, even when things feel tough. But sometimes, finding the right words to talk about hard work can be tricky.
That’s why I’ve made this easy and warm list of 23 idioms for working hard. These phrases will help you express effort, dedication, and never giving up in ways that feel friendly, simple, and clear. Let’s explore them together and keep cheering each other on!
1. Go the extra mile
Meaning:
Do more than expected.
In a sentence:
She always goes the extra mile to help her team.
Best use:
When someone works with extra care.
Other ways to say:
- Give your all
- Do even more
- Go above and beyond
2. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning:
Work late into the night.
In a sentence:
I had to burn the midnight oil to finish the project.
Best use:
When staying up late to work.
Other ways to say:
- Stay up working
- Work overtime
- Late-night effort
3. Put your nose to the grindstone
Meaning:
Work very hard without stopping.
In a sentence:
She put her nose to the grindstone to get everything done.
Best use:
When focusing deeply on work.
Other ways to say:
- Stay focused
- Keep working
- Push through
4. Give it your all
Meaning:
Put all your energy into something.
In a sentence:
Just give it your all, and you’ll do great!
Best use:
When motivating someone.
Other ways to say:
- Do your best
- Go full speed
- Try your hardest
5. Put your heart into it
Meaning:
Work with love and passion.
In a sentence:
She put her heart into her writing.
Best use:
When someone truly cares about their work.
Other ways to say:
- Care deeply
- Work with love
- Give your passion
6. Break your back
Meaning:
Work super hard.
In a sentence:
He broke his back getting the house ready.
Best use:
When doing physical or tough work.
Other ways to say:
- Work really hard
- Push yourself
- Put in the effort
7. Roll up your sleeves
Meaning:
Get ready to work hard.
In a sentence:
It’s time to roll up your sleeves and start cleaning.
Best use:
Before starting a big task.
Other ways to say:
- Get ready
- Start working
- Prepare to dig in
8. Sweat blood
Meaning:
Work very, very hard.
In a sentence:
She sweated blood to meet the deadline.
Best use:
For extreme effort.
Other ways to say:
- Push to the limit
- Work your hardest
- Give everything
9. Give 110%
Meaning:
Do even more than your best.
In a sentence:
The team gave 110% in the game.
Best use:
When someone puts in extra effort.
Other ways to say:
- Go above and beyond
- All in
- Max effort
10. Work your fingers to the bone
Meaning:
Work so hard you feel worn out.
In a sentence:
He worked his fingers to the bone building the treehouse.
Best use:
When feeling tired from work.
Other ways to say:
- Work until you drop
- Exhaust yourself
- Wear yourself out
11. Keep your nose to the grindstone
Meaning:
Stay focused on your work.
In a sentence:
Keep your nose to the grindstone and you’ll finish soon.
Best use:
When you need to stay on track.
Other ways to say:
- Stay on task
- Focus hard
- Keep going
12. Bust your chops
Meaning:
Work very hard on something.
In a sentence:
She busted her chops to prepare the event.
Best use:
When working on a tough project.
Other ways to say:
- Give all your effort
- Push hard
- Work like chaotic
13. Grind away
Meaning:
Keep working at something for a long time.
In a sentence:
He kept grinding away until the job was done.
Best use:
For long, steady work.
Other ways to say:
- Stick with it
- Keep at it
- Stay busy
14. Put your shoulder to the wheel
Meaning:
Work with strength and determination.
In a sentence:
It’s time to put your shoulder to the wheel and finish.
Best use:
When encouraging teamwork.
Other ways to say:
- Push hard
- Stay strong
- Work together
15. Hit the ground running
Meaning:
Start working hard right away.
In a sentence:
We hit the ground running on the new project.
Best use:
When beginning a task fast.
Other ways to say:
- Get started quickly
- Jump right in
- Begin strong
16. Move heaven and earth
Meaning:
Do everything possible to succeed.
In a sentence:
She moved heaven and earth to help her family.
Best use:
When making big efforts.
Other ways to say:
- Do whatever it takes
- Try everything
- Work miracles
17. Blood, sweat, and tears
Meaning:
A lot of hard work and effort.
In a sentence:
This book took blood, sweat, and tears.
Best use:
For big projects.
Other ways to say:
- Tons of work
- Hard-earned
- Full effort
18. Burn the candle at both ends
Meaning:
Work from early morning to late night.
In a sentence:
He burned the candle at both ends last week.
Best use:
When you’re very busy.
Other ways to say:
- Overwork
- No rest
- Long hours
19. Hard as nails
Meaning:
Very tough and strong while working.
In a sentence:
She’s hard as nails when it comes to finishing tasks.
Best use:
For strong workers.
Other ways to say:
- Tough
- Strong-willed
- Never gives up
20. All hands on deck
Meaning:
Everyone must work together.
In a sentence:
It’s all hands on deck for the school event.
Best use:
When teamwork is needed.
Other ways to say:
- Team effort
- Everyone helps
- Full support
21. Make light work
Meaning:
Many people helping makes work easier.
In a sentence:
With friends helping, we made light work of the cleaning.
Best use:
When teamwork helps.
Other ways to say:
- Easier together
- Quick work
- Help each other
22. Put in the hours
Meaning:
Spend lots of time working.
In a sentence:
He put in the hours to learn piano.
Best use:
For steady practice.
Other ways to say:
- Time well spent
- Long effort
- Lots of practice
23. Pull your weight
Meaning:
Do your fair share of the work.
In a sentence:
Everyone needs to pull their weight on the project.
Best use:
When sharing tasks.
Other ways to say:
- Do your part
- Help out
- Contribute
Conclusion
Hard work makes dreams come true, and with these 23 idioms for working hard, you now have thoughtful and simple ways to share your efforts and cheer others on, too. Keep going, keep trying, and remember that your work always matters!
