Synonyms for keep one's nose the grindstone
- bite off more than one can chew
- go to extremes
- go too far
- keep one's nose to the grindstone
- overdo
- overextend oneself
- slave
- spread oneself too thin
- stay on the treadmill
- take on too much
MOST RELEVANT
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the
Philip Lief Group.
WORD ORIGIN
early 13c. "millstone," from grind (v.) in sense of "sharpen" + stone (n.); meaning "revolving stone disc used for sharpening, etc." is from c.1400. Phrase nose to the grindstone in use by 1530s; originally to get control of another and treat him harshly:
The main modern (reflective) sense of "work hard" is from 1828.