What does “Donkey work” mean?
"Donkey work" means engaging in hard, menial, or tedious work.
What context can I use the in?
Example
I had to do all the donkey work while my colleagues relaxed.
Example
Cleaning the entire house was donkey work that took hours.
Example
The interns were given all the donkey work tasks in the office
Is “Donkey work” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?
“Donkey work” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.
How would I use “Donkey work” effectively in context?
You can use "Donkey Work" to describe hard, menial, or tedious work. It emphasizes the idea of laborious tasks that require effort and perseverance. For example, if someone complains about having to do a lot of repetitive paperwork, you could say, 'Yeah, it's definitely donkey work, but it needs to be done.'
- 1Work
I had to do all the donkey work while my colleagues relaxed.
- 2Household Chores
Cleaning the entire house was donkey work that took hours.
- 3Internship
The interns were given all the donkey work tasks in the office.
Similar phrases to “Donkey work”:
To work hard and persistently on a difficult task
Example
She slogged through the project, putting in long hours to meet the deadline.
Hard and continuous work
Example
He toiled away in the fields, harvesting crops under the scorching sun.
Good things to know:
Where does the phrase “Donkey work” come from?
The origin of the phrase "Donkey Work" is unknown.
Is “Donkey work” common in everyday conversation?
Yes, "Donkey Work" is a common idiom used in everyday conversation. People often use it to describe tasks that are laborious, repetitive, or require a lot of effort.
What tone does “Donkey work” have?
"Donkey Work" conveys a tone of frustration or annoyance towards the task at hand. It implies that the work is burdensome and not particularly enjoyable.
Can “Donkey work” be used in informal and formal settings?
Yes, "Donkey Work" can be used in both informal and formal settings. It's a versatile expression that describes the nature of certain tasks. You can use it in casual conversations with friends or colleagues, as well as in more formal situations such as work meetings or professional emails.
Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?
It's commonly used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'I had to do all the donkey work while my colleagues relaxed.' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the phrase even if used alone, like saying 'Ugh, donkey work!' to express frustration about a tedious task.
