beavering away
Laboring without pause
Beavering away means working busily and industriously at a task, like a beaver building a dam.
The phrase emphasizes steady, diligent effort over time: She's been beavering away at her thesis all semester.
Primarily British.
- industriousDevoted to steady effort
- laboriousRequiring considerable effort
- focusConcentrated attention point
- grindCrush into particles
- diligentPersistently attentive to tasks
hard at work · heads down · slogging · tenacity · toil · elbow grease · determination · hustle · tapping · steadfastness · sweat · busy as a bee · nose to the grindstone · perseverance · hammering · scurry · commitment · work ethic
beavering awayslacking off
Neglecting responsibilities deliberately
loafing · idling · slacking · goofing off · shirking
beavering awayresting
In a state of stillness
relaxing · lounging · vegetating · dozing · napping
beavering awaydragging one's feet
Intentionally slowing progress
moving at a snail's pace · drifting · moseying · pottering about · ambling