simple past tense and past participle of work like a mule

Synonym of buy cheap, buy twice

Expressing confidence that a conundrum has a solution despite it not being apparent.

(idiomatic) Synonym of close enough for government work

(US, idiomatic, humorous, derogatory) Adequate: acceptable as government work, imperfect but not worth the time or effort of improving.

A philosophy of life, holding that people who do not look for an easy way of earning a living are foolish.

(slang) Less vulgar synonym of work one's ass off.

(idiomatic, British spelling) Alternative form of work someone's ass off.

(idiomatic) To work especially hard, usually for an extended period.

(This entry is a translation hub.) (idiomatic, vulgar, slang) To work, or cause to work, excessively or to the point of exhaustion; see work + someone's ass off.