# beaver away at

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/beaver-away-at
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to work very hard and steadily on a task for a long time.

For teachers: to work industriously and persistently at a specific task; implies a high level of diligence and focus over a sustained period.

## Examples

- She is beavering away at her homework.
- He spent the entire weekend beavering away at his tax returns to meet the deadline.
- The researchers have been beavering away at the data for months, hoping to find a pattern that explains the sudden shift in climate.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is beavering at his project." but "He is beavering away at his project." — the particle 'away' is necessary to convey the sense of continuous, hard work.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by 'at' plus a noun or a gerund indicating the task.
- Teaching tip: this is an idiomatic phrasal verb based on the animal's reputation for being busy; it is more informal than 'toil' but more descriptive than 'work hard'.

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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.