sweat-shop

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A place of work with poor conditions: A "sweat-shop" is a workplace, often a factory or workshop, where employees are subjected to long hours, low wages, and unsafe or unhealthy conditions, typically exploiting workers for maximum profit.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Many garments sold in cheap stores are produced in a sweat-shop abroad. (A factory with exploitative labor practices in another country.)
  • The investigation revealed that the clothing brand used a sweat-shop with no ventilation and fire exits. (A workplace with hazardous conditions.)

Advanced Usage

• "to run a sweat-shop": to operate a business that exploits workers.
  • The company was accused of running a sweat-shop in the basement of its building. (Operating an exploitative workplace.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sweatshop (n): a common alternative spelling (without the hyphen).
  • The term "sweatshop" is often used interchangeably with "sweat-shop."
• Sweatshop labor (n phrase): work performed under exploitative conditions.
  • Activists protested against sweatshop labor in the fashion industry. (Work involving poor wages and conditions.)

Synonyms

• Exploitative factory: a workplace that takes advantage of workers.
• Sweated labor: work done under harsh, low-paid conditions.

Related Idioms

• Sweat it out: to work hard under difficult conditions (often used metaphorically, not directly about sweat-shops).
  • The miners had to sweat it out in the tunnels for twelve hours. (Worked strenuously in harsh conditions.)

Notes

• The word "sweat-shop" is a compound of "sweat" (perspiration from hard labor) and "shop" (a workplace). It implies that workers are forced to work so hard that they sweat profusely, often in hot, crowded spaces. The term carries a strong negative connotation and is used in discussions of labor rights and ethics.