English idiom

donkey work

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

the tiring, repetitive, and often unappreciated work that supports a larger task

Word picture

A worker is pictured like a donkey carrying a heavy load for others.

Example

“The interns did the donkey work of checking every address before the invitations were sent.”

Dictionary details

Component words

donkey work

Tags

work
effort

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

all in a day's work

a task treated as routine because it belongs to someone's normal duties

make light work of

to handle a demanding task quickly and effortlessly

make short work of

to finish a task or overcome an opponent with surprising speed and ease

work wonders

have an unusually strong and beneficial effect

clear the decks

to remove distractions or unfinished tasks so you are ready for action

fill someone's shoes

to replace someone in a role and meet the demands they handled

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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