plugs away
Toils without stopping
To plug away is to keep working steadily at something, especially a difficult or tedious task: She's been plugging away at her thesis for months.
The phrase suggests persistent effort without glamour—dogged rather than inspired work.
He plugs away at the piano every evening.
- perseveresContinues despite difficulty
- keeps goingRemains in motion
- soldier onContinue despite difficulty
- persistContinue firmly onward
- laborStrenuous effort; also childbirth
never gives up · industriousness · focus · self-discipline · fortitude · plod · nose to the grindstone · endurance · diligence · slog · hard yards · steadfastness · patience · tenacity · motivation · endeavor · resilience · determination
- keeps goingpersists, continues, endures, lasts, perseveres
persistence and effort
plugs awaygives up
Ceases effort or resistance
quits · abandons · throws in the towel · surrenders · calls it quits
work intensity/engagement
plugs awayslacks off
Reduces effort deliberately
idles · loafs · goofs off · coasts · lazes about