grunt work
nounUS /ɡɹʌ̃nʔwɝk/
Etymology From the verb grunt.
1
Idiomatic Work (especially that which is heavy, repetitive or mindless) that is considered undesirable and therefore delegated to underlings.
- He plans to hire somebody to do the grunt work of digging the trenches for the pipes.
- She has not only participated in the left as a star, even though she came into the role quite young. When Holly was between entertainment jobs, she volunteered for grunt work in anti-war organizations.1990 December 9, Maida Tilchen, “Closer To Near”, in Gay Community News, volume 18, number 21, page 14:
- Related terms
- donkey work, God's work