galley-slave

galley-slave

A galley-slave rows a large wooden ship across the open sea.

Definition

Noun: - Historical meaning: A person forced to row in a galley (a type of ship propelled mainly by oars), typically as a punishment for crime or as a prisoner of war. - Figurative meaning: A person who is forced to do very hard, tedious, or oppressive work, often without respite.

Usage Examples
  • Historical context:
    • The captured pirates were sentenced to serve as galley-slaves for the rest of their lives. (They were forced to row the galley as punishment.)
  • Figurative context:
    • After years of working 80-hour weeks, he felt like a galley-slave in his own company. (He felt trapped in extremely hard labor with no freedom.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to be a galley-slave to something": to be completely dominated or enslaved by a task or obligation.
    • She was a galley-slave to her studies, never having time for leisure. (Her academic work consumed all her energy and time.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Galley (n): a long, low, single-decked ship propelled by oars, used in ancient and medieval times.
    • The Roman fleet used galleys for both trade and warfare.
  • Slave (n): a person who is legally owned by another and forced to work without payment.
    • The abolition movement fought to end the practice of keeping slaves.
Synonyms
  • Drudge: a person who does hard, menial, or tedious work.
    • She felt like a drudge, cleaning the house day after day.
  • Serf: a laborer bound under the feudal system to work on his lord's estate.
    • The serfs worked the land in exchange for protection.
  • Prisoner: a person legally confined as a punishment for a crime.
    • The prisoner was kept in chains.
Related Idioms

  • "to work like a galley-slave": to work extremely hard, often without rest.

    • He worked like a galley-slave to finish the project on time. (He exerted maximum effort, almost as if forced.)

  • "to be chained to the oar": to be forced to perform a repetitive, exhausting task.

    • She felt chained to the oar of her daily commute. (The commute felt like a never-ending, forced labor.)
Phrasal Verbs
  • Slave away: to work very hard for long periods.
    • He slaved away at his desk all night. (He worked tirelessly, much like a galley-slave.)