work like a mule
Labor without rest
To work like a mule is to labor with tireless, plodding endurance—suggesting hard physical effort sustained over long hours without complaint.
Mules are known for their capacity to bear heavy loads and keep going: She worked like a mule to put her kids through college.
The phrase often implies the work is unglamorous or thankless.
- workhorseReliable, tireless producer
- nose to the grindstoneDevoted to hard work
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- toilStrenuous, prolonged effort
- persistenceContinuing despite difficulty
beast of burden · wage labor · long hours · drudgery · daily grind · resilience · grind · slave away · draft animal · grit · donkey · tenacity · blood sweat and tears · exertion · no rest · fatigue · exploitation · industriousness
work like a muletake it easy
Advice to relax
coast · slack off · phone it in · go through the motions · dog it
work like a muletake one's sweet time
Delay without concern
take one's time · dawdle · putter around · lollygag · dilly-dally
work like a mulelaze about
Pass time idly
twiddle one's thumbs · do nothing · goof off · shirk · idle
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