Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English: Graft (Noun/Verb)

What does it mean?

Graft is an informal UK term meaning hard work, often physical or manual labour. To 'graft' means to work extremely hard and diligently.

Is it positive or negative?

It is strongly positive, used to commend someone's effort and dedication.

When do you use it?

You use it when praising someone for their commitment to a difficult task, or when complaining (often proudly) about how hard you have worked.

Examples

Example 1 (Noun): "It took a lot of graft to finish building that house in just three months."

Example 2 (Verb): "I've been grafting all day on this presentation, and I'm exhausted."

Question for you

Do you think people who graft hard always get rewarded for their effort?

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