donkey work

noun

1. Informal. tedious, repetitious work; drudgery.

donkey-work

noun

1. groundwork
2. drudgery US equivalentdraft-mule work

Word History and Origins

Origin of donkey work¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

All this fiddling donkey-work with which women occupied themselves at home—he dismissed it.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, the pioneering and donkey work has all been done, and the country only waits for us to step into our new inheritance.

From Project Gutenberg