work like a beaver

Idioms  

1. Also,. Work very energetically and hard, as in She worked like a beaver to clean out all the closets, or I've been working like a dog weeding the garden, or He's very strong and works like a horse. The first of these similes is the oldest, first recorded in 1741; the variants date from the second half of the 1800s. Also see work one's fingers to the bone.

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Example Sentences

To "work like a beaver" is an almost universal expression for energetic persistence, but who realizes that the beaver has accomplished anything?

From Wild Life on the Rockies by Mills, Enos Abijah

“Ah get ’im,” said Sam suddenly, and he dropped into the pit and began to work like a beaver.

From The Go Ahead Boys and the Treasure Cave by Kay, Ross

Quinn was nothing daunted, however, and continued to work like a beaver.

From A Ball Player's Career Being the Personal Experiences and Reminiscensces of Adrian C. Anson by Anson, Adrian Constantine

On the contrary I work like a beaver the whole time.

From Daughters of the Puritans A Group of Brief Biographies by Beach, Seth Curtis

I had to work like a beaver before I could brighten them up.

From Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2 by Hamilton, Ian, Sir