eager beaver
[ ee-ger ]
/ ˈi gər /
noun
a person who is excessively diligent or overly zealous.
Words nearby eager beaver
Origin of eager beaver
An Americanism dating back to 1940–45
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
British Dictionary definitions for eager beaver
eager beaver
noun
informal a person who displays conspicuous diligence, esp one who volunteers for extra work
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Idioms and Phrases with eager beaver
eager beaver
An exceptionally zealous person, one who habitually takes on more tasks or works harder than others. For example, Bill is a real eager beaver, always volunteering to stay late. This expression became especially popular during World War II, applied to recruits anxious to impress their commanding officers by such behavior. [First half of 1900s]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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