Work Your Fingers To The Bone | English Speaking Lessons
To work your fingers to the bone is to work very hard for a long time. Because you have been putting in so much effort over a long period of time, your fingers have reduced to mere bones with hardly any skin or flesh covering them.
The expression wear your fingers to the bone also means the same.
- I have been working my fingers to the bone to get the roof repaired before monsoon sets in.
- She worked her fingers to the bone to bring up her four children.
- My father worked his fingers to the bone to give us a good education.
- I have been working my fingers to the bone to finish the project before the deadline.
- They have been working their fingers to the bone to get the venue ready for the function.
Exercise
1. Which one of the following idioms has a similar meaning to the idiom work your fingers to the bone?
a) Be all fingers and thumbs
b) Burn the candle at both ends
c) Feel green around the gills
d) Have fingers in the till
Answer
b) Burn the candle at both ends
