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[00:07.65]And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

[00:19.10]Learning a language is difficult.

[00:22.13]Sometimes it requires a plan and resources.

[00:27.68]But it also usually requires hard work. People who persist with their language goals often get good results.

[00:39.43]They keep working even through hard times.

[00:43.79]They keep their nose to the grindstone.

[00:46.99]When you keep your nose to the grindstone, you work very hard for a long time at something. You don't give up.

[00:58.40]How do we use this idiom in daily life?

[01:02.02]How did it come to mean perseverance?

[01:05.84]And just what is a grindstone?

[01:08.99]We answer all these questions on today's show.

[01:14.48]First, let's talk about a grindstone.

[01:18.07]A grindstone is a large stone circular stone with a hole in the middle.

[01:24.64]An axle fits through that hole.

[01:28.96]When the stone turns quickly on the axle, it can sharpen, shape, or smooth a tool.

[01:36.22]And that brings us to the beginnings of this idiom.

[01:40.92]On his website Phrase Finder, writer and language researcher Gary Martin suggests two possible beginnings.

[01:51.84]Both are set in work environments of long ago: a place for milling grain and a place for sharpening tools.

[02:02.77]Some online sources claim that keeping your nose to the grindstone comes from milling grain.

[02:11.56]If the stone got too hot while grinding, it could burn the grain.

[02:17.02]So, workers would have to keep their noses close to the stone and smell for any sign of burning.

[02:26.69]However, word expert Martin says that doesn't seem true.

[02:32.55]He claims that these mills used millstones.

[02:37.76]So, if this story were true, we would say keep your nose to the millstone. But we don't.

[02:47.14]He also notes that the terms "millstone" and "grindstone" were used interchangeably hundreds of years ago.

[02:56.87]But then, at some point long ago, that stopped. Grain mills used millstones and not grindstones.

[03:08.25]And vice versa - tool sharpening workshops used grindstones and not millstones.

[03:17.21]So, let's talk about the explanation set in a tool sharpening workshop.

[03:23.93]Martin talks about old workshops in his area of England.

[03:29.74]He says these workshops have benches very near to grinding stones.

[03:37.41]Workers would sit on the benches hunched over and work very hard and very long.

[03:44.74]He goes on to write the following:

[03:47.95]"They had to pay close attention to their work as a moment too long on the wheel could cause the steel to overheat and be ruined."

[03:59.66]Martin guesses that this story is the more likely explanation.

[04:06.46]Imagine being hunched over your work and working hard at it.

[04:11.55]That describes having your nose to the grindstone.

[04:16.61]In some cases, we also say put your nose to the grindstone.

[04:22.83]We may say it this way if we give someone advice.

[04:28.33]For example, "You need to put your nose to the grindstone if you're going to finish this project on time."

[04:37.59]Now let's hear another example.

[04:40.74]A: Have you seen Marisa lately?

[04:43.45]She hasn't called or texted in weeks!

[04:46.58]B: I was worried about her too.

[04:49.29]But the other day, I ran into her co-worker.

[04:53.21]She said Marisa has her nose to the grindstone trying to finish her year-end report.

[05:00.57]A: Oh I forgot about that!

[05:03.04]In that case, let's take her some dinner.

[05:05.69]She never eats when she's busy with work.

[05:09.43]B: Good idea! I'll make my famous pasta and meatballs.

[05:14.48]If I had to pick an opposite of this idiom, it would be this one:

[05:21.11]All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

[05:26.30]Life can't be all about work.

[05:29.24]So, if you've been keeping your nose to the grindstone, remember to take a break.

[05:35.69]And that's all the time we have this Words and Their Stories.

[05:40.91]Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo.

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Words in This Story

persist - v. to continue to do something in spite of opposition, warnings, or pleas

idiom - n. an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but must be learned as a whole

perseverance - n. continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition

axle - n. a pin, pole, or bar on or with which a wheel revolves

mill - v. Milling transforms grain into flour for food preparation. : - n. A mill is where grain is processed into flour.

vice versa - adv. with the order changed : with the relations reversed

bench - n. a long seat for two or more persons

hunch over phrasal verb to bend one's body into an arch or hump

opposite - adj. as different as possible

dull - adj. mentally slow




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