15+ Slang Words For Working Hard (And How To Use Them)

Straightforward and business-like, those who are working hard are loyal to their motivations such as family, friends, and future goals. Working hard never goes unnoticed. Here are some slang words related to the concept.

Table of Contents

Slang Words for Working Hard (in Alphabetical Order)

All-Nighter

Meaning:

(Noun) A work that takes all night.
Example: Matt might pull an all-nighter to perfect tomorrow’s presentation to the Board.

Buckle Down

Meaning:

(Verb) To get serious about work.
Example: Buckle down, Sophie. The other department will be throwing rocks at us for pulling out of the project.

Bust a Nut

Meaning:

(Verb) A nut is commonly used to refer to one’s brainpower so to bust one is to exert one’s full capabilities.
Example: Yasmine will bust her nut just to get Andrew to like her.

Dog Eat Dog

Meaning:

(Idiom) A highly competitive area where everyone can and will hurt each other just to succeed.
Example: The stock market is a dog eat dog world. Don’t go in without knowing anything or you’ll be swallowed whole.

Eager Beaver

Meaning:

(Noun) Someone who is dedicated and proactive in the job.
Example: Kimberly offered to make the presentation for the product launch. She’s always an eager beaver.

Extra Mile

Meaning:

(Noun) An expression for delivering more than what is expected.
Example: The youth group went the extra mile when they did not only give free snacks to the less fortunate kids but also clothes and school supplies.

Grafter

Meaning:

(Noun) A British slang for a hard worker.
Example: Andi is a true grafter. She practices 10 hours a day to perfect her gymnastics routine.

Grind

Meaning:

(Noun) A street slang for a job that is hard but nonetheless persisted.
Example: The academic grind will be tripled once you go to college.

Hard Yakka

Meaning:

(Noun) An Australian slang for very intensive labor.
Example: Farm work is hard yakka but there’s nothing else I would rather do.

Hustle

Meaning:

(Verb) A street slang to give one’s all and persevere through.
Example: Jennie hustles through part-time jobs to support her own education.

Knackered

Meaning:

(Noun) A British slang for being overly tired after a hard day’s work.
Example: Rather than lay down and sleep, the knackered Jun plays video games instead.

Smoko

Meaning:

(Noun) An Australian slang for a work break.
Example: Mate, let’s take a smoko at the rooftop. My wife packed us meals.

Struggle is Real

Meaning:

(Expression) A millenial slang that acknowledges how hard life, work, or studies may be.
Example: The struggle is real as Heidi intensifies her weight training for the Olympics.

Swot

Meaning:

(Noun) A British slang term for someone who is academically persistent.
Example: Rose can never be bothered to go to a party. The girl’s a total swot who’s constantly afraid of losing her scholarship and student visa.