in harness

Idioms  

1. On duty or at work. For example, Despite his illness he's determined to continue in harness. It also is put as be back in harness, meaning “to return to duty or work,” as in After a long vacation she's finally back in harness. This expression alludes to horses harnessed to perform work. [First half of 1800s] Also see die with one's boots on (in harness).

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in harness

Kay, played by Nicole Kidman, is newly back in harness as the chief medical officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a job she’d held before being pushed out some unspecified years earlier.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2026

France-based stars Marcos Kremer and Juan Cruz Mallia, who missed the two Test defeats by England in July, are back in harness, while eight of the starting XV are established Prem performers.

From BBC ● Nov. 23, 2025

Bit wear on two of the mares also suggested they were used under saddle or in harness and for breeding.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 22, 2024

A writer of immense range and output, capable of 6,000 words a day when in harness, Mr. Johnson modeled his career after earlier English men of letters, like Thomas Babington Macaulay and G.K.

From New York Times ● Jan. 12, 2023

On such a surface, and going up and down slopes and gullies, we found it best to go one in harness pulling and one behind pushing.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Related Words

• engaged
• hired
• occupied