# piece of work

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/piece-of-work
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A person who has a strong and unusual personality, especially one with seriously unpleasant character flaws.

## Examples

- Don't trust him, he is a real piece of work.
- I tried to be polite, but my new neighbor is such a piece of work that I eventually stopped talking to him.
- While he presents a charming face to the public, those who work closely with him know he is a difficult piece of work who thrives on conflict.

## Origin

First use appears c. 1473. The idiomatic second sense came about due to Hamlet’s monologue. See cite from sense 1 below.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.