work like a horse
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Examples
It's hard to be a woman. One must think like a man, act like a lady, look like a girl, and work like a horse.Làm phụ nữ thật khó. Vừa phải suy nghĩ như đàn ông, vừa phải ứng xử như quý cô, nhìn như một cô gái, và làm việc như ngựa.
Tatoeba sentence #4646144 (CC BY 2.0 FR, tatoeba.org, retrieved 2026-07-31)
Sources & notes
Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review.
Equivalents & related
Common questions
What does “work like a horse” mean?
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Is “work like a horse” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.
What is the closest equivalent?
“quần quật” (Tiếng Việt) — near equivalent.