worked like a mule
Slaved without rest
Worked like a mule means labored extremely hard, with connotations of grueling, unglamorous physical effort sustained over long hours.
Mules are known for their endurance and capacity for heavy work: She worked like a mule to put her kids through college.
The phrase often implies the work went unappreciated or poorly compensated.
- strainExcessive stretching force
- sweatMoisture from skin pores
- elbow greaseStrenuous physical effort
- grindCrush into particles
- nose to the grindstoneDevoted to hard work
toil · slave away · pack animal · beast of burden · diligence · yoke · burned the midnight oil · workhorse · burnt out · load · drained · worn down · dog tired · draft animal · harness · drudgery · long hours · pulled out all the stops
worked like a muleloafed
Was deliberately unproductive
slacked off · lazed about · idled · coasted · sat on one's hands
worked like a muletook it easy
Relaxed without urgency
coasted · slacked off · puttered around · cruised · puttered
work, worked, working, works, worker, workers, workable, unworkable, workman