Work like a dog.
Work like a dog.
To "work like ahost," might sound like a well-deserved nap is in order, but it's quite the opposite! This idiom is used to describe someone tirelessly toiling away, similar to how dogs in the past were bred to work hard, whether they were hunting, pulling, or guarding. It emphasizes exertion and perseverance, often without much reward or recognition—picture someone digging through mountains of paperwork or laboring from dawn till dusk in the fields.
He's been working like a dog all week to meet the project deadline.
He exerted himself greatly all week to meet the project deadline.
She works like a dog, no wonder she's so successful.
She works very hard, which explains her success.
During the holiday season, the retail staff work like a dog to handle the increased customer flow.
During the holiday season, retail staff found themselves working extremely hard to manage the influx of customers.