slug away
C1 informal intransitive
In simple words
To keep working very hard at something difficult for a long time
Literal meaning: To keep throwing heavy punches — a boxing metaphor
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
informal
To work very hard and persistently at something over a long period
"He slugged away at the project for weeks before it finally came together."
2 C1 neutral
(Boxing) To keep throwing heavy punches over a sustained period
"Both fighters slugged away at each other through all twelve rounds."
Usage notes
Less common than 'slog away'. Has connotations of physical or laborious effort. Also, 'slug away' can refer to persistently throwing punches in a boxing context.
Commonly used with
at it for hours all day relentlessly problem task
Forms
Base
slug away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
slugs away
he/she/it
Past simple
sluged away
yesterday
Past participle
sluged away
have + pp
-ing form
sluging away
continuous
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