work away

work away (at something)

To put forth a persistent, diligent, and devoted effort (toward some task or activity). I've been working away at my manuscript for the last month. Our whole team has been working away to get the project finished in time.
See also: away, work
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

work away (at something)

to continue to work industriously at something. All the weavers were working away at their looms. They just kept working away.
See also: away, work
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

work away

v.
1. To labor continuously with zealousness or diligence: I've been working away on the problem all night. I worked away at the problem until I solved it. We must work away until we are finished.
2. To remove or eliminate something from something by repeated, continuous, or applied effort: I worked away the rough spots with sandpaper. I worked the metal burrs away with a rasp.
3. To damage, diminish, erode, or consume by long or hard use, attrition, or exposure: Years of exposure to rain and snow finally worked away the paint. You can see where the hinges have worked the wood away.
See also: away, work
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • away
  • are we away
  • Are we away?
  • draw away
  • do away with
  • do away with (someone, something, or oneself)
  • draw away from (someone or something)
  • dwindle away
  • dawdle away
  • drift away
References in periodicals archive
The report reveals that in Birmingham only 10 per cent of employees in large citybased businesses are equipped to productively work away from their desks.
Generation Y 'to go mobile' CALL BUSINESS EDITOR JON GRIFFIN ON 0121 234 5670
Other perks are a PS2,325 "disturbance allowance" for staff having to work away from home on special projects, while some get up to PS684 a year for working from home.
Whitehall perks; Feedback
"She seems to be getting better now - she's certainly well enough to work away last week and this week in the wheelchair.
MARIAN'S THE WHEEL DEAL
Brendan said: "There are so many creative people in the area, working away in their workshops, sending work away all over the country, but not selling their work locally, and as one of them, I wanted to do something about it." This year sees artists such as awarding winning ceramicist David Roberts, who has been made an honorary member of the Ceramica Libera Sperimentale (CLS) Italy, show his work.
In the market for art; Art
Granted, he is still a long way behind an in-form Kauto Star, and even further behind Denman, but after those two it's game on and Jonjo O'Neill will work away to have him in peak form come March.
Exotic's Cup hopes revived; TRADING POST TRADING REPORT
"I spoke to the manager as I didn't do a full pre-season and needed to do special work away from the guys.
Fab has plenty in reserves
Also new is the Mini Laboratory Unit for curing UV inks, coatings or adhesives, which allows users to work away from the production line.
UV curing system
HOLIDAY MAKERS waste annual leave by taking their work away with them, a survey out today shows.
Why we take our work on holiday
While we are sure AMs do a lot of work away from the debating chamber, the general impression seems to be one of politicians doing very little for a great deal of money and perks.
Editorial Comment Wake-up call for assembly
Sometimes they give work away, just to get a contract signed.
Profitable as sold: reps who promise more than they deliver
"You are not going to step into a market with professionals who know that area backwards and forwards and pull work away from them unless you are very cheap.
Larry Roman makes sure WDF Inc. is a safe bet
As these organisms work away, a seed fixed inside the phone cover pops out into the soil.
Flowering phones
FORMER Tory leader William Hague earned up to pounds 820,000 last year from his work away from the House of Commons.
Hague is quids in
It's a groundswell of realization by academic authors, whose research is publicly funded and peer-reviewed, that it is counter to the interests of good science to give their work away to publishers who believe it's all about markets.
It's not all about the markets