a little (hard) work never hurt anyone

a little (hard) work never hurt anyone

Doing hard, arduous work won't have any ill effects on a person, and, in fact, it is often beneficial to them. I told Mrs. Smith that you would help clean out her attic, and I don't want to hear any complaints about it—a little work never hurt anyone. I think it would be good for Sarah to get a job this summer. A little hard work never hurt anyone, after all. A: "I'll never get this rust off of here!" B: "Oh, just keep scrubbing—a little hard work never hurt anyone."

See also: anyone, hurt, little, never, work

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

little (hard) work never hurt anyone

 and little (hard) work never killed anyone

Prov. One should expect to do hard or difficult work and not avoid doing it. Go help your father with the yard work. A little hard work never hurt anyone. Go ahead. Bring me some more bricks. A little work never killed anyone.

See also: anyone, hurt, little, never, work

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.