legwork

[leg-wurk]

noun

1. work or research involving extensive walking or traveling about, usually away from one's office, as in gathering data for a book, a legal action, etc.

2. action of the legs as executed by an athlete, dancer, etc.

legwork

/ ˈlɛɡˌwɜːk /

noun

1. informal,  work that involves travelling on foot or as if on foot

Word History and Origins

Origin of legwork¹

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; leg + work

Example Sentences

While lawyers and their staff do much of the legwork for trial preparation, a client works with their attorneys to help formulate a defense.

Read more on Salon

Leading up to the draft, Horn’s situation also required extra scouting legwork.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Experts said it is unrealistic to expect Californians to do that kind of legwork as they search for care for themselves or family members.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Even if you do some of the legwork yourself, always rely on the agent’s expertise for negotiating.

Read more on Salon

“You really have to do the legwork,” he said.

Read more on New York Times

Related Words

• audit 
• checking www.thesaurus.com
• checkup 
• cross-examination www.thesaurus.com
• diagnosis 
• experiment 
• exploration 
• inquiry 
• inspection 
• interrogation 
• investigation 
• observation 
• probe 
• questioning 
• questionnaire 
• raid 
• research 
• review 
• scan 
• scrutiny