grindstone

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: 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: nose, put

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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: keep, nose

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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: keep, nose