English Expression · Intermediate
donkey work
Work that is difficult, boring, and routine
Pronunciation: say donkey work
Meaning
Work that is difficult, boring, and routine.
Example
Why does everyone else get the interesting work while I have to do all the donkey work, and even the company's dirty work?
Why does everyone else get the interesting work while I have to do all the donkey work, and even the company's dirty work?
Practice tips
- Practice donkey work out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this English expression is for intermediate-level learners.