applied oneself
Put in effort
Applied oneself means devoted sustained effort and concentration to a task or goal.
The phrase typically appears in past tense to describe someone who worked diligently: She really applied herself in her final semester and brought her grades up.
It often implies overcoming previous laziness or distraction: If he'd only applied himself, he could have been a great musician.
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- laser focusIntense, undivided concentration
- buckled downBegan working earnestly
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- nose to the grindstoneDevoted to hard work
industriousness · put in the work · mindfulness · perseverance · grit · ambition · intentionality · commitment · attentiveness · mastery · progress · single-mindedness · striving · labor · exertion · purposefulness · engagement · burning the midnight oil
applied oneselfslacked off
Reduced one's effort
slacked · loafed · coasted · idled · goofed off
applied oneselfzoned out
Mentally checked out
daydreamed · drifted off · spaced out · tuned out · checked out
applied oneselfshirked
Avoided obligated tasks
neglected · avoided · procrastinated · ducked out · blew off
apply, applied, applies, applying, application, applications, applicant, applicants, applicable