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grindstone

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nose to the grindstone

A phrase said of one who is working hard and/or diligently on something. Sometimes used as an imperative. I'm so impressed your grades, honey—you really put your nose to the grindstone this year, and it paid off! I've got to keep my nose to the grindstone if I'm going to get this promotion. We need to finish this project tonight! Nose to the grindstone, people!

See also: grindstone, nose

keep one's nose to the grindstone

Fig. to work hard and constantly. Son: I'll never get good grades. I might as well not even study. Mother: Don't give up yet. I'm sure that if you just keep your nose to the grindstone, you'll get the results you want. Mary kept her nose to the grindstone while her friends were out enjoying themselves.

See also: grindstone, keep, nose

put one's nose to the grindstone

Fig. to keep busy doing one's work. (Also with have and get, as in the examples.) The boss told me to put my nose to the grindstone. I've had my nose to the grindstone ever since I started working here. If the other people in this office would get their noses to the grindstone, more work would get done.

See also: grindstone, nose, put

keep your nose to the grindstone

to work continuously After a year of keeping your nose to the grindstone, you finally get away for that vacation you've dreamed about.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the shortened form nose to the grindstone: During the exam period, it was all nose to the grindstone.

See also: grindstone, keep, nose

keep your nose to the grindstone

to continue to work very hard, without stopping I've only got six weeks before my exams start so I'm trying to keep my nose to the grindstone.

See also: grindstone, keep, nose

nose to the grindstone, keep one's

Stay hard at work, as in We expect John to get good grades again, since he really keeps his nose to the grindstone. This expression, first recorded in 1539, alludes to a tool that must be sharpened by being held to a grindstone.

See also: keep, nose

put (one's) nose to the grindstone

To work in earnest.

See also: grindstone, nose, put