work oneself to the bone

English

Verb

work oneself to the bone (third-person singular simple present works oneself to the bone, present participle working oneself to the bone, simple past and past participle worked oneself to the bone)

  1. Alternative form of work one's fingers to the bone.
    • 1888, Rudyard Kipling, “The Phantom Rickshaw”, in The Phantom 'Rickshaw and Other Tales, Allahabad: A.H. Wheeler and Co., page 7:
      The men who do not take the trouble to conceal from you their opinion that you are an incompetent ass, and the women who blacken your character and misunderstand your wife's amusements, will work themselves to the bone in your behalf if you fall sick or into serious trouble.
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