eager beaver

[ ee-ger ]

/ ˈi gər /

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See synonyms for eager beaver on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who is excessively diligent or overly zealous.

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Origin of eager beaver

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Words nearby eager beaver

Eads, Eadwig, -eae, Eagan, eager, eager beaver, eagerly, eagerness, eagle, eagle eye, eagle-eyed

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use eager beaver in a sentence

This is the Mexico that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and most major U.S. corporations, are eager to call amigo.
Why Mexicans Are Enraged by Obama’s Big Tuesday Meeting|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A woman in a smart uniform scribbles out tickets for a growing line of tourists eager to take a trip on the old-fashioned train.
Riding Thailand’s WWII Death Railway|Liza Foreman|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In August 1984, I arrived at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, eager to jump into college life.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything|Liz Seccuro|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, most of us are eager to return home for the holiday.
How to Make It Through Thanksgiving Alive|Lizzie Crocker|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Why the government is so vehemently eager to delist the grizzly remains a troublesome question.
What It Takes to Kill a Grizzly Bear|Doug Peacock|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The rebellion spread to their district, and many of the natives on and about the estate were eager to join in the movement.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
Sam sat opposite him in perfect silence, waiting, with eager curiosity, for the termination of the scene.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
The morning came and with it Shaffer, and with him five hundred and fifty men, eager for the combat.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Taken for guerrillas, every Southern sympathizer was eager to give them all the information possible.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
They also took advantage of the necessity of others, in miserly traffic in Beaver skins with the Savages.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other 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]

eager beaver

Origin of eager beaver

Words nearby eager beaver

Words related to eager beaver

How to use eager beaver in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for eager beaver

Other Idioms and Phrases with eager beaver