labour-saving
Definition
Adjective: - Designed to reduce the amount of work or effort required: "labour-saving" describes a device, method, or system that decreases the physical or mental effort needed to complete a task, often by using technology or automation.
Usage Examples
- (It reduces the manual effort of washing clothes.)
- (The software reduces the human effort needed for repetitive tasks.)
- (These devices save physical labour.)
Advanced Usage
"labour-saving device": a specific tool or machine that reduces effort.
- The vacuum cleaner is a common labour-saving device in modern homes. (It reduces the labour of sweeping and cleaning.)
"labour-saving technique": a method or approach that minimizes work.
- Batch cooking is a labour-saving technique for busy families. (It reduces the total time and effort spent on daily meals.)
Variants and Related Words
- Labour (n): work, especially physical work.
- The job requires hard labour. (Significant physical effort.)
- Save (v): to keep or avoid using up (time, effort, money).
- This shortcut will save you an hour. (It reduces the time needed.)
- Labour-saver (n): a thing that reduces work.
- The robot vacuum is a real labour-saver. (It saves physical effort.)
Synonyms
- Effort-saving: reducing the amount of effort required.
- Time-saving: reducing the amount of time needed (often overlapping with labour-saving).
- Automatic: working by itself, without human effort.
Related Idioms
- Save your breath: to avoid wasting effort talking when it is useless.
- Don't argue with him; save your breath. (Avoid useless effort.)
- Make light work of: to do something quickly and easily.
- The new machine made light work of the digging. (It reduced the labour involved.)
Phrasal Verbs
- (None directly related to "labour-saving". The adjective is typically used as a compound modifier before a noun.)