labour of love

/'leibərəv'lʌv/

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Explanation of "Labour of Love"

Definition:
A "labour of love" is a task or work that someone does because they enjoy it or care about it, rather than for money or other rewards. It's often something that requires time and effort but is done out of passion or love for the activity or cause.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "labour of love" when talking about projects, hobbies, or activities that are not done for financial gain.
• It often refers to creative or charitable work.

Example:

• "She spent many hours painting the community center, and it was a true labour of love for her."

Advanced Usage:

In more complex sentences, you might say: - "Although the project took months to complete, the volunteers considered it a labour of love, as they were committed to improving their neighborhood."

Word Variants:

• "Labour" (British English) vs. "Labor" (American English)
• "Love" can refer to deep affection, so it can also be seen in other phrases, like "love for cooking" or "passion for helping others."

Different Meanings:

• The phrase itself does not have many different meanings but can be understood in various contexts where someone is dedicated to a cause or activity simply for their enjoyment or belief in its value.

Synonyms:

• Passion project: A project that someone undertakes out of passion rather than for monetary gain.
• Charitable work: Work done to help others, often without payment.
• Voluntary work: Work done freely without compensation, often for a community or charitable purpose.

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Go the extra mile": To make an extra effort, often seen in the context of doing something for love or care.
• "Burn the midnight oil": To work late into the night, usually because one is passionate about what they're doing.

Academic

Noun

1. productive work performed voluntarily without material reward or compensation

Synonyms

• labor of love