sweat of the brow
Hard physical labor
Sweat of the brow refers to hard physical labor or strenuous effort.
The phrase evokes the literal perspiration that comes from demanding work: He earned his living by the sweat of his brow.
It often carries moral weight, suggesting honest toil rather than easy gain or inherited wealth.
The expression has biblical origins, from God's curse on Adam after the Fall.
- hard workSustained strenuous effort
- digUnearth by shoveling
- toilStrenuous, prolonged effort
- manual laborWork done bodily
- elbow greaseStrenuous physical effort
grit · nose to grindstone · intellectual property · Protestant work ethic · success · accomplishment · creativity · craftsmanship · exertion · daily grind · self-reliance · perseverance · John Locke · ownership · endurance · diligence · drudgery · earnings
sweat of the browpassive income
Money earned without labor
unearned income · inheritance · trust fund · windfall · silver spoon
sweat of the broweffortlessness
Quality of seeming unstrained
ease · leisure · lap of luxury · life of Riley · bed of roses
sweat, brow, sweats, sweated, sweating, sweaty, sweatier, sweatiest, sweatiness