go back to the salt mines

go back to the salt mines

To resume one's job or daily work, especially when it is very hard or unpleasant. (Workers in salt mines were often slaves and prisoners.) Sometimes used humorously. I'm not excited to go back to the salt mines on Monday. When do you have to go back to the salt mines after your trip? Everyone took a two-week break after the successful launch of our latest product, but now it's time to go back to the salt mines.

See also: back, go, mine, salt, to

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

go back to the salt mines

Fig. to return to one's work. (Jocular; fig. on the image of menial labor working in salt mines.) It's late. I have to go back to the salt mines. What time do you have to go back to the salt mines Monday morning?

See also: back, go, mine, salt, to

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