work of art
Anything beautiful, exquisite, or finely crafted.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Her painting is a real work of art.”
“The chef spent hours on the dessert, and the result was a true work of art.”
“Though built from scrap metal and old glass, the sculptor's final piece stood in the gallery as a genuine work of art.”
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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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close enough for government work
Adequate; acceptable as government work, imperfect but not worth the time nor effort of improving.
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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
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dirty work
One or more unpleasant tasks, assignments, or employment duties, especially those of a disreputable or illicit nature.
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do the work
To take part in social justice activism; to fight against racism, oppression, etc.
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don't call me sir, I work for a living
Used by senior enlisted military personnel to indicate that they are not commissioned officers.
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donkey work
Work that is difficult, boring, and routine.
Last updated August 10, 2026