Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone - Idiom Of The Day For IELTS

This IELTS idiom “Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone” is perfect for responding to questions about working hard without any distractions or taking any breaks. The idiom directly means to keep working diligently without diversions and being focused on the work. 

In this blog of ours, you will perfectly learn how to use “Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone” accurately in your answers, with sample sentences, meanings, and context-based practice exercises to boost your IELTS exam’s lexical resource score.

Meaning of the 'Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone' IELTS Idiom

This idiom ‘keep one’s nose to the grindstone’ means to keep working hard and consistently, mainly on something that is tedious or complex. This also implies dedication, and a strong work ethic, often without any distraction or complaints.

Where Did the Idiom 'Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone' Come From?

The idiom traces back to the 16th century and likely comes from the practice of which a knife grinder would lean close to a grindstone as they sharpen the blades. To “keep your nose to the grindstone” was an image of someone focusing mainly on their work and literally putting their face close to their task.

Synonyms of the 'Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone' Idiom

• Work diligently
• Staying focused
• Plugging away

Antonyms of the 'Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone' Idiom

• Slacking off
• Procastinating
• Being idle

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Using the 'Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone' Idiom

Incorrect Usage of Tenses

• “She keep her nose to the grindstone.”
• “She keeps her nose to the grindstone.”

Using it Literally

• It is not about an actual grindstone. So remember, it is a metaphor.

Using It for Short-Term Tasks

• The idiom tends to imply long-term and sustained efforts in working.

A Sample Scenario to Use the Idiom 'Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone'

Neethu was preparing for her IELTS test, and for the past three months, she kept her nose to the grindstone by studying seven hours a day without fail. Her dedication paid off when she scored an overall band 7.5 as she sacrificed sleep even on weekends, and focused solely on her end goal. Hence, Neethu’s success became a perfect example of how consistent efforts lead to great rewards.

Examples to Understand the Usage of the 'Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone' Idiom in Sentences

• My manager said, “If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you will definitely finish the company’s project ahead of schedule.”
• She has been keeping his nose to the grindstone ever since she got that job promotion.
• Despite feeling exhausted, Sheela kept her nose to the grindstone to complete her internship’s project on time to impress her supervisors.

Practice Exercise

Exercise 1

Choose the suitable idiom to complete the sentence below.

1. To meet the tight deadline for her project submission, Sheetal had to __________ for four whole weeks.

a) let her hair down

b) keep her nose to the grindstone

c) hit the sack

d) pull someone’s leg

Exercise 2

Instruction: Write a small paragraph by using the idiom "Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone."

Question: To describe a time when you had to work very hard for something.

Exercise 3

Instruction: Write a paragraph that clearly uses the idiom "Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone."

Question: Some people believe that success mainly depends on hard work, while others think factors like talent or luck play a bigger role. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Practice Exercise: Answer Key

Exercise 1

b) keep her nose to the grindstone

Exercise 2

During my high school’s final exams, I kept my nose to the grindstone for months by studying late into the night every single day. It was difficult, but when the results came out it was worth it. I clearly avoided distractions like playing my playstation or watching series and stuck to a strict schedule. Being motivated by visualizing my goals, made me pass with distinction and I felt incredibly proud of my hard work.

Exercise 3

While talent and luck can definitely create opportunities, a person’s consistent hard work is often the key to their long-term success. Individuals who keep their noses to the grindstone usually achieve more through their perseverance. Because hard work builds discipline and resilience. Hence, in my opinion, dedication outweighs natural ability in most of the cases.

Some More Example Sentences Based On the 'Keep One’s Nose To The Grindstone' Idiom 

• “In this program, they really keep your nose to the grindstone.“
• “I have kept my nose to the grindstone for a week doing this report“
• “Mary kept her nose to the grindstone while her friends were out enjoying themselves.“

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