You make hard work of simple tasks by worrying too much.
make hard work of
idiomTo do (something) in a way that makes it more difficult than it needs to be.
She makes hard work of writing emails because she spends hours checking every single word for mistakes.
The candidate made hard work of the interview by overthinking every question instead of providing the straightforward answers the committee required.
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absence makes the heart grow fonder
One feels more love or affection for those one loves when parted from them.
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bone hard
As hard as a bone, rock hard.
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busy work
Work or activity performed with the intention or result of occupying time, and not necessarily to accomplish something productive; routine work of low priority undertaken for the sake of avoiding idleness.
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cannot make it
Cannot reach satisfactory or expected standards or do something competently; describes someone in a hopeless situation.
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close enough for government work
Adequate; acceptable as government work, imperfect but not worth the time nor effort of improving.
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cold hard cash
Money, regarded as an incentive that can override any doubts or ethical concerns.
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crazy enough to work
Acknowledging that an idea, plan, or strategy seems foolish, implausible, or risky, yet might succeed precisely because of its unconventional or unexpected nature.
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detective work
investigative research
Last updated April 17, 2026