donkeywork
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- Hard, monotonous routine work: "Donkeywork" refers to laborious, dull, and repetitive tasks that require significant effort but little skill or intellectual engagement. It emphasizes the tedious and unglamorous nature of the work.
Usage
- The term "donkeywork" is used to describe the most basic, tiresome, and often thankless parts of a job or project. It is typically informal and can carry a negative connotation, highlighting a lack of enjoyment or stimulation.
- It functions as a non-count noun (uncountable noun).
Examples
- Noun:
- After the creative brainstorming, we were left with the donkeywork of data entry.
- The interns were assigned all the donkeywork, like filing and photocopying.
- Writing the first draft is exciting, but the donkeywork of editing can be tedious.
Advanced Usage
- "The donkeywork": Often used with the definite article "the" to specify the tedious part of a particular task.
- She handled the creative design, leaving the donkeywork of coding to her assistant.
Variants and Related Words
- Donkey work: A less common variant, written as two separate words, with the same meaning.
- Drudgery (n): Hard, menial, or dull work. (A close synonym, often used interchangeably).
- Grunt work (n, informal): Unskilled, laborious tasks. (A very similar modern synonym).
Synonyms
- Drudgery: Tedious, hard work.
- Menial work: Work requiring little skill and often considered demeaning.
- Tedium: The state of being tedious.
- Slog: A period of difficult, tiring work or traveling.
Antonyms
- Creative work: Work involving original ideas and imagination.
- Skilled labor: Work requiring special training or ability.
- Brainwork: Work involving mental effort rather than physical.
Idioms and Phrases
- To do the donkeywork: This is the standard phrasal use of the term, meaning to perform the hard, routine tasks.
- While the manager gets the credit, it's the team that does all the donkeywork.
Noun
- hard monotonous routine work