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Working oneself to the bone

 

An idiom is an expression whose meaning is not readily apparent based on the individual words in the expression. This forum is dedicated to discussing idioms and other sayings.

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  #1
Old December 22, 2011, 08:44 PM
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Question Working oneself to the bone
bone, working (oneself) to the: (colloquial) working very hard. A variation of working (one’s) fingers to the bone.

What would be the best translation into Spanish?

¿Trabajar como un negro?
¿Matarse a trabajar?
¿Deslomarse trabajando?
¿Romperse los cuernos a trabajar?
¿Sudar la gota gorda?
¿Trabajar como una mula?
¿Sudar tinta trabajando?
¿Trabajar como un burro de carga?
¿Darse una paliza trabajando?

Probably any of the above may be valid, but which one (or other/-s) would be the most "ad hoc"?
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  #2
Old December 22, 2011, 08:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JPablo View Post
bone, working (oneself) to the: (colloquial) working very hard. A variation of working (one’s) fingers to the bone.

What would be the best translation into Spanish?

¿Trabajar como un negro?
¿Matarse a trabajar?
¿Deslomarse trabajando?
¿Romperse los cuernos a trabajar?
¿Sudar la gota gorda?
¿Trabajar como (una) mula?
¿Sudar tinta trabajando?
¿Trabajar como (u)n burro (de carga)?
¿Darse una paliza trabajando?

Probably any of the above may be valid, but which one (or other/-s) would be the most "ad hoc"?
Those we use all the time in Chile.
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  #3
Old December 22, 2011, 08:54 PM
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Thank you, Chileno.
Any other suggestions?
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  #4
Old December 22, 2011, 11:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JPablo View Post
Thank you, Chileno.
Any other suggestions?
You're welcome. And, not for the moment...
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  #5
Old December 22, 2011, 11:33 PM
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Thank you again... I was thinking if there was an expression in Spanish that gives the same idea of "desgaste" (wear and tear) the English original conveys...

In study there is "desgastar los codos" when one keeps studying (empollando) burning the midnight oil... but on work, work... somehow nothing comes to mind. (If you have some inspiration, always welcome)

(By the by, always a pleasure to get your input... although lately I have been not as assiduous as I used to be...)
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  #6
Old December 23, 2011, 06:31 AM
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More commonly you will hear: to work one's fingers to the bone.
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  #7
Old December 23, 2011, 06:50 AM
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Exceso de trabajo físico:

Trabajar como negro/chino.
Matarse trabajando.
Deslomarse trabajando.
Herniarse trabajando.
Trabajar como burro.
Sudar la gota gorda.
Romperse la espalda trabando.

General:
Romperse el c*** trabajando (to work your butt off)
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  #8
Old December 23, 2011, 06:51 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JPablo View Post
Thank you again... I was thinking if there was an expression in Spanish that gives the same idea of "desgaste" (wear and tear) the English original conveys...

In study there is "desgastar los codos" when one keeps studying (empollando) burning the midnight oil... but on work, work... somehow nothing comes to mind. (If you have some inspiration, always welcome)

(By the by, always a pleasure to get your input... although lately I have been not as assiduous as I used to be...)
Always a pleasure to read you input too!

I just remembered "romperse el trasero/xxx trabajando" it conveys what you are looking for and then some.
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  #9
Old December 23, 2011, 11:44 AM
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In Mexico we use:

Trabajar como negro (some people add "para vivir como blanco")
Trabajar como mula/burro
Trabajar de sol a sol
Matarse/deslomarse/fregarse (and some rude verbs) trabajando
Partirse/tallarse el lomo trabajando
(I think the last ones are those closer to that "desgaste" idea.)


"Sudar la gota gorda" here can be associated to working hard, but it's a much more general idea of someone sweating hard for whatever the reason (being very nervous, exposed to the heat, etc.).
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  #10
Old December 30, 2011, 03:52 PM
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Gracias a todos... por vuestro input y ayuda. (¡Feliz 2012 a todos!)
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  #11
Old December 30, 2011, 04:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JPablo View Post
Gracias a todos... por vuestro input y ayuda. (¡Feliz 2012 a todos!)

Gracias. Para ti y todos acá también.
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  #12
Old December 30, 2011, 06:26 PM
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Todos estan bien
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  #13
Old January 11, 2012, 12:05 PM
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Gracias, Robin.
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