[Idiom] BACK TO THE SALT MINES. - Explore Idioms That Perfectly Capture the Workday Blues!

Returning to hard or tedious work.

Back to the salt mines" humorously refers to going back to one's duties, especially after a break, with a sense of resignation and inevitable drudgery. Salt mines historically were tough, grueling places to work. Using this expression jocularly expresses the speaker's lack of enthusiasm for returning to hard labor or boring tasks. For instance, after a holiday, an employee might say in jest to their colleagues, "Well, back to the salt mines we go!

Example Sentences

1. After the weekend, it's back to the salt mines at work.

   After the weekend, it's back to hard work.

2. Holiday is over, time to head back to the salt mines.

   The holiday is over, time to return to work.

3. Once their break was done, they all groaned about returning to the salt mines.

   They all were unhappy about returning to work after their break.