Sekirov Dictionary

nose to the grindstone

noun 2
adverb 1
forms 2

noun2

•
Used to form idioms meaning "to force oneself to work hard or to focus intensely upon one's work".
- People whose heads are a little up in the world, have no occasion to keep their nose to the grindstone. — 1828
•
(no longer used) Used to form idioms meaning "to force someone to work hard or to focus intensely upon their work".
- This Text holdeth their noses so hard to the grynde stone that it clean disfigureth their faces. — 1533

adverb1

•
Hard at work.
- Nose to the grindstone, he was up all night.

forms

noses to grindstones · noses to the grindstone

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