grind it out

To continually work on a difficult task. I've been grinding it out, trying to figure out where this discrepancy in the budget came from. I did grind it out, and I still got a D on my term paper! So frustrating! Wow, they really did grind it out fixing up the house, huh? It looks incredible!

grind out

1. To produce something by crushing or pulverizing, as through a machine. A noun or pronoun can be used between "grind" and "out." The workers in here are grinding out flour from grain. When you buy a bag of unshelled pumpkin seeds, how were the seeds taken out of their shells? Were they ground out? This machine will grind out the wood so that you end up with small chips usable outside.

2. To make, create, or produce something perfunctorily and unenthusiastically. A noun or pronoun can be used between "grind" and "out." How many of these stupid articles do I have to grind out before someone at the magazine takes my work seriously? Sure, come on in—I'm just grinding out yet another report for the boss. He fancies himself something of a creative genius who doesn't just grind out paintings with commercial appeal.

3. To work hard to do or accomplish something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "grind" and "out." With hard work and a focus on defense, we should be able to grind out a victory against this team. It took hours to grind out a compromise, but we're finally in agreement now. A better agent would have ground out a contract for that star player by now.

grind it out

To make a persistent effort in doing something that is difficult; work at something persistently.