English Reference
Idiom idiom

glutton for punishment


One who persists in an effort in spite of harmful or unpleasant results.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

He is a glutton for punishment for working on his day off.

CONTEXTUAL

After failing the exam twice, she signed up for the hardest class again; she is a real glutton for punishment.

COMPLEX

Despite the repeated failures of his previous ventures, he launched another ambitious startup, proving himself a true glutton for punishment in the pursuit of his vision.


Last updated August 10, 2026