I keep my nose to the grindstone to finish this project.
nose to the grindstone
idiomUsed to form idioms meaning "to force someone to work hard or to focus intensely upon their work".
Origin
first recorded 16th c.From the literal action of intensely working a grindstone, whether powered by a treadle or waterwheel. The expression initially implied punishment or abusive management, forcing the worker into intense work, and was used in the anonymous translation (1557) of Erasmus's Merry Dialogue as a hyperbolic punishment threatened for an abusive husband. It was later adapted to forcing oneself into similarly intense effort.
With the final exam only two days away, she kept her nose to the grindstone and studied all night.
Despite the exhaustion of the long semester, the dedicated researcher kept her nose to the grindstone until she finally achieved the breakthrough she sought.
- 01
banana nose
A large, unusually long nose.
- 02
button nose
A nose with a small size and a relatively flat, round shape, usually considered to be dainty or cute in appearance.
- 03
camel's nose
A situation where the permitting of some small act will lead to a larger undesirable act or circumstance.
- 04
count noses
To count people one at a time.
- 05
cut off one's nose to spite one's face
To harm oneself as a result of attempting to harm an adversary.
- 06
give someone a bloody nose
To defeat or frustrate someone, but without doing any permanent damage.
- 07
I suppose
[Cockney slang]nose
- 08
keep one's nose clean
To stay out of trouble, especially by avoiding unlawful behavior.
Last updated April 17, 2026