plough

Related to plough: plough through, Plough back

plough (one's) own furrow

To do something in isolation; to act without the help or influence of others. Primarily heard in UK. I tried to offer Jonathan help with the project, but he'd rather plough his own furrow. As an artist, I think you should try to plough your own furrow before worrying what other people might want.
See also: furrow, own, plough

plough a lone(ly) furrow

To do something in isolation; to act without the help of others. Primarily heard in UK. I tried to offer Jonathan help with the project, but he'd rather plough a lone furrow.
See also: furrow, plough

plough on

To move, progress, or develop at a slow but constant and deliberate pace, especially that which is menial, time consuming, or tedious. Primarily heard in UK. John: "Hey Steve, what's new?" Steve: "Nothing much, just been ploughing on with research for my thesis." A: "I've still got a ways to go before I'll be finished clearing out debris from the property." B: "Well, just keep ploughing on until you're done!"
See also: on, plough

plow (something) back (into something)

To reinvest financial gains back into a business or industry. (Usually spelled "plough" in British English.) Even if you're company is thriving, it could still go bankrupt if you don't plow those profits back into the business. Many traders have been plowing part of their enormous earnings back into the tech market, as shares in the biggest companies continue to skyrocket.
See also: back, plow

plow ahead

To proceed or continue to progress (with something), especially in a headstrong or impetuous manner. (Usually spelled "plough" in British English.) We decided just to plow ahead with our plans, despite the difficulties we knew we'd encounter along the way. Well, that's what happens when you plough ahead without waiting for proper authorization.
See also: ahead, plow

plow in

To plow the soil so as to mix some other substance thoroughly into it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "plow" and "in." (Usually spelled "plough" in British English.) You plow in this new kind of insecticide so that the plants are naturally resistant to bugs as they grow. Make sure you plow the fertilizer in before you sow the seeds.
See also: plow

plow into (someone or something)

1. To crash into something with great force. Usually spelled "plough" in British English. The driver lost control of the truck, and it plowed right into the front of the café. The attacker plowed into a crowd of people and was tackled to the ground by one of them.
2. To undertake something with great energy, fervor, or determination. Sorry, I can't chat right now. I've got to plow into all these emails that piled up while I was on vacation. I can't believe how enthusiastic Jeff has been about his new classes—he's been plowing into his homework every chance he gets!
See also: plow

plow the sands

To do something that seems futile. I know that I'm just plowing the sands by telling you to stay away from that boy, but I'm your father, and I don't want to see you get hurt. That couch will never fit up the steps—tell them to stop plowing the sands!
See also: plow, sand

plow through (something)

1. To create a path through some heavy substance with or as with a plow. (Usually spelled "plough" in British English.) We had to plow through the snow to reach our neighbor's house. The mud was so horrible after the floods receded that we were plowing through it for days.
2. To progress through something with great speed, enthusiasm, or determination. Wow, you really plowed through that book! Are you ready for the next one in the series? I know you want to plow through these early lessons, but you should really take your time so the information sinks in.
See also: plow, through

plow up (something)

1. To clear some pathway by digging into it with or as with a plow. (Usually spelled "plough" in British English.) I decided to plow up the road because it had become so uneven and overgrown with shrubs.
2. To damage a road or pathway with the use of a plow. The city trucks really plowed up the asphalt on our road when they cleared away the snow. It looks terrible now, and it's horribly bumpy to drive on!
3. To drive up or along some road or pathway with great, reckless haste. The cab driver plowed up the small mountain road at breakneck speed, nearly crashing into three different cars along the way.
4. To discover something as a result of uncovering it with a plow. I couldn't believe it when Jake plowed up an original Superman #1, wrapped in plastic and in mint condition. I plowed up Dad's cell phone this morning. He'd been looking for it all winter!
See also: plow, up

put (one's) hand to the plough

To set to work; to begin or get busy working. (Spelled "hand to the plow" in American English.) Primarily heard in UK. We've spent a long time planning our business model, and now it's time to put our hand to the plough. My father loves his work. Even after retiring, he still puts his hand to the plough with various projects.
See also: hand, plough, put
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

plow something in

to work something into soil by plowing. Lay the fertilizer down and plow it in. Plow in the fertilizer as soon as you can.
See also: plow
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

plough a lonely furrow

or

plough a lone furrow

BRITISH, LITERARY
If someone ploughs a lonely furrow or ploughs a lone furrow, they do something by themselves and in their own way, without any help or support from other people. It seems that Shattock was something of an original thinker, ploughing a lonely furrow. Stein sandwich bar continues to plough a lone furrow as the building's only occupant. Note: This expression is very variable. Their government is more than adept at ploughing its own diplomatic furrow. Note: A furrow is a long narrow trench made in the ground by a plough.
See also: furrow, lonely, plough
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

plough a lonely (or your own) furrow

follow a course of action in which you are isolated or in which you can act independently.
See also: furrow, lonely, plough

plough the sand

labour uselessly.
Ploughing the sand has been a proverbial image of fruitless activity since the late 16th century.
See also: plough, sand

put (or set) your hand to the plough

embark on a task.
This phrase alludes to Luke 9:62: ‘And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God’.
See also: hand, plough, put
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌplough a lonely, your own, etc. ˈfurrow

(literary) do things that other people do not do, or be interested in things that other people are not interested in: There are several English teachers at the school, but Jeanne continues to plough a lonely furrow, teaching French and German.
A furrow is a long narrow cut in the ground made by a plough (= a large piece of farming equipment used for cutting the soil).
See also: furrow, plough
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • furrow
  • plough (one's) own furrow
  • ploughed
  • ploughs
  • plough a lone(ly) furrow
  • plough a lonely furrow
  • plough a lonely, your own, etc. furrow
  • go hat in hand to (someone)
  • go hat in hand to someone
  • help a lame dog over a stile
References in periodicals archive
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Bob's ploughing plot was on a very slight slope, and it soon became evident that the tractor was quite content to plough downwards, but coming up the slope, it was spinning.
The delights of diesel
Hymns sung included For the Beauty of The Earth, For the Fruits of His Creation,We Plough The Fields and Scatter and JoanWoodall played the accordion for Farmer, Farmer Plough Your Field, which was so popular it was sung twice.
Ploughing a furrow to church; Sunday service just champion
The plough - in this case a single-furrow horse-drawn Ransomes RND4 which belongs to Paul Coppen - will be taken into church to be blessed by the vicar, the Rev Stephen Adesanya.
Church marks ancient rite of blessing plough; AN age-old agricultural and Christian tradition is being celebrated later this month in County Durham. KAREN DENT discovers more about Plough Sunday and how the occasion is being marked - complete with antique plough - in Bowes
Mr Mmapetla further advised those who would plough in March to plough mainly beans.
Chobe fails to reach 45 000ha target
The origin of Plough Sunday dates back to medieval times when the parish ploughs, bedecked with ribbons, would be dragged to church.
Special Plough Sunday service
Team captain Charlie Marshall said: "The aim is to plough a row of identical furrows - each one the same distance apart, the same depth and perfectly straight.
Students plough their own furrow to triumph
AN old iron plough is to be paraded through a south Warwickshire village to mark Plough Sunday.
Farming fun from yesteryear
The release says farmers who use technologies such as row planting and harrowing will continue to benefit according to ISPAAD guidelines, ading that farmers should plough and plant only when there is adequate moisture which can sustain crops.
Goverment throws lifeline to Southern farmers
The traditional art of cable ploughing (also known as steam ploughing) was celebrated at the seventh Great Challenge competition put on by the Steam Plough Club in Warwickshire, England, last September.
The seventh challenge british event keeps steam ploughing tradition alive
Inside the chapel there were two single-furrow hand-pulled ploughs, plus four different seed drills, including a fiddle drill for the hugely popular Blessing of the Plough service.
Tractor boys and girls roll up for plough service
FLINTSHIRE found itself at the centre of the vintage machinery world when a rare plough was put through its paces by the farmer who helped restore it.
My 46-year dream
That day he borrowed a Ransomes plough, and it was fitting that he was reunited with it for his last ploughing event 64 years later at Earsdon, near Tritlington, before his retirement from the sport.
Champion ploughman George loses his fight with cancer
AN OLD iron plough is to be paraded through a south Warwickshire village and blessed at church to mark Plough Sunday.
Plough gets share of the limelight