yeoman's service
Arduous work, performed in a vigorous, committed manner.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The volunteers did yeoman's service cleaning up the park today.”
“You do yeoman's service by keeping the office records so organized.”
“The IT team performs yeoman's service whenever the company servers crash.”
“Our assistant did yeoman's service during the busy season, working late every night to ensure we finished the project on time.”
“The local nurses performed yeoman's service during the flu outbreak, treating hundreds of patients while the clinic was short-staffed.”
“My old truck gave yeoman's service for twenty years, carrying heavy loads across the country without ever breaking down.”
“Throughout the long and difficult campaign, the dedicated staff performed yeoman's service, tirelessly managing every detail to secure the final victory.”
The phrase is an allusion to the stouthearted and dutiful labour performed by a yeoman, a social class of land-owning commoners in the English feudal system. It denotes reliable, efficient work of a standard expected from a freeholder whose primary obligation was loyal service.
Last updated August 10, 2026