work one s tail off

work (one's) tail, butt, ass off (redirected from work his tail off)
work (one's) tail off
To work really hard (on or at something).
I know you thought it was just a silly New Year's resolution, but I've been working my tail off at the gym!
Sally and Jim work their tails off when we hold our consumer conference each year. I don't know what I'd do without them!
See also: off, tail, work
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
work one's tail off and work one's buns off; work one's ass off; work one's butt off
Inf. Fig. to work very hard. (Use caution with butt.) I worked my tail off to get done on time. You spend half your life working your butt off—and for what?
See also: off, tail, work
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
work one's tail off, to
To work very hard. This inelegant locution dates from the first half of the twentieth century. James Farrell used it in Studs Lonigan (1932–35): “This idea of sweating your tail off with work.” It also is put as to work one’s ass or butt off. See also break/bust one's ass.
See also: tail, to, work
The Dictionary of Clich;s by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer