keep (one's) nose to the grindstone

To work hard and/or diligently on something. I'm so impressed by your grades, honey—you really kept 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.

See also: grindstone, keep, nose, to

keep your nose to the grindstone

If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you continue to work very hard and do not spend time on other things. I know if I keep my nose to the grindstone and work hard, things will work out. There is more to life than keeping your nose to the grindstone and saving for a rainy day. Note: You can also say that you put your nose to the grindstone, meaning that you start to work hard. If she focuses and puts her nose to the grindstone, I think she'll do extremely well. Note: A grindstone is a stone disc that moves around and is used to sharpen metal tools. The reference here is to a person bending over the grindstone while they are working, so that their nose is close to it.

See also: grindstone, keep, nose, to

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

keep your nose to the grindstone

work hard and continuously.

A grindstone was a thick revolving disc of stone on which knives and tools were sharpened. Appearing in various forms since the mid 16th century, this idiom originally referred to getting mastery over someone else by forcing them to work without a break.

See also: grindstone, keep, nose, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

keep your ˌnose to the ˈgrindstone

(informal) continue to work very hard: Keep your nose to the grindstone and you should pass the exam easily. OPPOSITE: put your feet up

A grindstone is a machine used for grinding, sharpening and polishing knives and tools.

See also: grindstone, keep, nose, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

See also:

References in periodicals archive

"He had the type of game that happens when you keep your nose to the grindstone and keep working."

Buffalo Grove, Meadows earn MSL East victories

They made it into the middle class because at that time, hard work was all that was required: keep your nose to the grindstone and you can afford a house, education for your children, even vacations.

Wanted: risk takers

Keep your nose to the grindstone. Hard work will bring its just rewards, but if you slacken off now it will mean having to double your future workload to catch up.

RUSSELL GRANT

You will find yourself getting stuck into a mammoth task that will keep your nose to the grindstone with hardly a break.

STARS

You've got to keep your nose to the grindstone and do the work.

Exec has affinity for festival flair: Sierra/Affinity co-founder Nick Meyer has come a long way in four years, with a model that leans on scale and shared risk

As for whether the Cardiff-based boss can ever knock Charles Dunstone off the top spot, Mr Beresford said: "My advice to Henry is keep your nose to the grindstone.

Admiral chief's a dollar billionaire; ENGELHARDT SAILS INTO SECOND IN DIGITAL RICH LIST

So keep your nose to the grindstone and your shoulder to wheel.

Business is up, (but there's always a but) ..

There can be a lot of opportunities for playful and entertaining pursuits Archer but another part of your situation is demanding that you keep your nose to the grindstone. If you take your eye off what is important on a daily basis, you will soon attract criticism and opposition.

Your Stars

You need to keep your nose to the grindstone. Don't fool yourself into thinking you are irreplaceable.

Your Stars for the week with Russell Grant

Much can be achieved today, especially in your career if you keep your nose to the grindstone and avoid silly and needless confrontations.

stars

Mercury, your ruling planet, has a big influence on you, getting you to keep your nose to the grindstone at work.

HOROSCOPES stars

I wish I could remember what we talked about--it was probably the usual "keep your nose to the grindstone stuff" that older theatre people tell younger theatre people so they won't get discouraged by the harsh truth.

Spalding Gray: 1941-2004; The perfect moment

"You keep your nose to the grindstone and hope for the best," she said, "and it always helps to ride a winner at one of the big tracks like Haydock."

Winners and Losers: Wands takes the limelight; HAYDOCK

When you're making juice, sauce or other products from non-citrus fruit, you have to keep your nose to the grindstone for the daily chopping, squeezing, mashing or other form of size reduction.

The daily grind

"With a willingness to keep your nose to the grindstone, more women can capitalize on this demand for brokers who are able to put their client ahead of their ego."

Women in real estate