labor of love
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A labor of love is a task or project undertaken primarily for personal pleasure or satisfaction, rather than for financial gain or external reward. It is work done out of passion, devotion, or a deep sense of personal commitment.
Usage
This noun phrase is used to describe an activity that requires significant effort, time, or skill, but which the person does willingly and enthusiastically because they find it intrinsically rewarding. It emphasizes the motivation of love, passion, or personal fulfillment over material compensation.
Examples
- Restoring the classic car was a true labor of love for him; he spent every weekend in the garage for two years.
- She wrote the biography not for fame or money, but as a labor of love for her late mentor.
- The community garden, built entirely by volunteers, is a real labor of love.
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can sometimes imply that the work is arduous or time-consuming, but the passion for it makes the effort worthwhile.
- Compiling the family history from old letters and photos was a tremendous labor of love.
Variants and Related Words
- Labor (noun/verb): Work, especially hard physical work. In this phrase, it carries the connotation of sustained effort.
- Passion project (noun): A very similar term describing a personal undertaking driven by strong enthusiasm.
Synonyms
- Labor of devotion
- Passion project
- Act of love
Related Idioms
- A labour of Hercules (chiefly British English): This idiom refers to a task requiring enormous strength or effort. It contrasts with "labor of love" by focusing on difficulty rather than motivation.
- Cleaning the flooded basement was a labour of Hercules, not a labor of love.
Noun
- productive work performed voluntarily without material reward or compensation