May 27, 2005 11:44
19 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term
work away
English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Does working away mean also, that someone is working really hard or working a lot?
Responses
| 5 +3 | in your context, working really hard (and steadily) |
Marian Greenfield
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| 3 +1 | both |
Kathi Stock
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| 3 +1 | a sarcasm or innuendo could be involved |
Balasubramaniam L.
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| 4 -1 | work continuously |
Valentin Alupoaie
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| 4 -1 | to work hard |
Angela Dickson (X)
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| 4 -1 | working away from home |
Tony M
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Responses
+3
28 mins
Marian Greenfield
Native in English
&
English
Over 30 years in financial translation
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, Portuguese to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
44
Selected
in your context, working really hard (and steadily)
but the emphasis is on working hard.
in other contexts to work away at something can mean to keep at it until you get it done.
Not particularly British slang, it would be perfectly normal to use it here in the U.S.
in other contexts to work away at something can mean to keep at it until you get it done.
Not particularly British slang, it would be perfectly normal to use it here in the U.S.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Angela Dickson (X)
: with inclusion of 'steadily' - good to know it's not just Brit-speak, as well.
2 mins
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thanks
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| disagree |
Tony M
: I'm very far from convinced --- see the arguments put forward in my own answer for explanation...
10 mins
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| agree |
RHELLER
: YES!
1 hr
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THANKS!
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| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
3 hrs
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tks
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| agree |
conejo
5 hrs
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tks
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| agree |
tappi_k
1 day 12 hrs
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tks
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| disagree |
PeterFLee
: There is no emphasis on working hard.
2673 days
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks to all very much!"
+1
1 min
Kathi Stock
United States
United States
United States
With German Quality & Accuracy
Native in: German
Works in: English to German, German to English
both
work away like mad - means that person works a lot
working away - means that person is working at a different work place
working away - means that person is working at a different work place
-1
2 mins
Valentin Alupoaie
Romania
Romania
Works in field
Romania
Catch phrase under construction
Native in: Romanian
Works in: English to Romanian, Romanian
work continuously
.
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Note added at 4 mins (2005-05-27 11:49:03 GMT)
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8. Continuously; steadily: toiled away at the project for more than a year.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/away
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Note added at 4 mins (2005-05-27 11:49:03 GMT)
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8. Continuously; steadily: toiled away at the project for more than a year.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/away
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Angela Dickson (X)
: I don't think it's as specific as this
15 mins
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If you refer to "toiled away", it's just the dictionary example. Otherwise, there's nothing "specfic" in my answer. "Away" is added to lots of verbs to denote continuity. And it's not slang either.
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| disagree |
Tony M
: I'm very far from convinced --- see the arguments put forward in my own answer for explanation... // Linguistically, as a native speaker, it is immediately quite clear, even without any further context; it's just "the way we say things"
37 mins
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I can see your point, but I don't know if it's worth speculating... If the asker would kindly provide the other interlocutor's answer, or even more lines of the dialogue...
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-1
20 mins
Angela Dickson (X)
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Related KudoZ points
:
12
to work hard
you're right - it means working hard, from what you say of the context. Simple as that. You're also right in that it's British slang (I think).
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Tony M
: I'm very far from convinced --- see the arguments put forward in my own answer for explanation...
18 mins
|
+1
1 hr
Balasubramaniam L.
India
India
India
Fast, accurate, elegant translation
Native in: Hindi
Works in: English to Hindi, Hindi
Related KudoZ points
:
28
a sarcasm or innuendo could be involved
The meaning can become clear only when we know the exact relationship between the two persons exchanging these words.
For example, if the one being addressed is know to the other to be a workaholic and the asker himself is a more happy-go-lucky kind of person, he might say "Working away" in a half-disparaging or mocking way, which is at the same time not impolite.
Other situations will give other meanings.
Shorn of context, "working away" means doggedly pursuing something, not giving up easily, working persistently, even in the absence of rewards, motivation and even results.
For example, if the one being addressed is know to the other to be a workaholic and the asker himself is a more happy-go-lucky kind of person, he might say "Working away" in a half-disparaging or mocking way, which is at the same time not impolite.
Other situations will give other meanings.
Shorn of context, "working away" means doggedly pursuing something, not giving up easily, working persistently, even in the absence of rewards, motivation and even results.
-1
37 mins
working away from home
Although of course it CAN mean both, it would be quite odd to use it in the sense of 'work hard' in the format of the question as given.
No, I feel fairly sure that the asker of the question knows perfectly well that the other person has NOT been away, but asks the question, perhaps almost by way of a euphemism:
"Have you been working away?" --- "No, I've been in prison" or "No, I've just been deliberately avoiding you!"
It's kind of giving the person asked the opportunity to tell a white lie, or to bring out the truth...
As far as "working away..." = "working hard" is concerned, it would be odd to make it a short question like that, using it like an intransitive verb; much more likely to be something like "Have you been working away at your thesis?"
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Note added at 2673 days (2012-09-20 21:02:17 GMT) Post-grading
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Standing alone like this, 'working away' is IMHO much more likely to mean 'working away from home' — "Where have you been these last 3 months?" "Oh, I've been working away" can only really be interpreted as 'geographically away'; and cf. the familiar enough expression 'playing away', which is something of a euphemism for having extra-marital relationships; or of course, literally, a sports team playing an away match!
In the sense of 'being very busy', we more usually find 'working away at sth' — even though in certain specific expressions, the 'at' may be lost.
"He's been working away at that dratted project all day!"
"Gosh, you look busy, what's that you're working away at?"
"She's up in her room, working away like mad to meet her translation deadline."
It's much hard to come up with an example of it used rather barely, as in the present context.
No, I feel fairly sure that the asker of the question knows perfectly well that the other person has NOT been away, but asks the question, perhaps almost by way of a euphemism:
"Have you been working away?" --- "No, I've been in prison" or "No, I've just been deliberately avoiding you!"
It's kind of giving the person asked the opportunity to tell a white lie, or to bring out the truth...
As far as "working away..." = "working hard" is concerned, it would be odd to make it a short question like that, using it like an intransitive verb; much more likely to be something like "Have you been working away at your thesis?"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2673 days (2012-09-20 21:02:17 GMT) Post-grading
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Standing alone like this, 'working away' is IMHO much more likely to mean 'working away from home' — "Where have you been these last 3 months?" "Oh, I've been working away" can only really be interpreted as 'geographically away'; and cf. the familiar enough expression 'playing away', which is something of a euphemism for having extra-marital relationships; or of course, literally, a sports team playing an away match!
In the sense of 'being very busy', we more usually find 'working away at sth' — even though in certain specific expressions, the 'at' may be lost.
"He's been working away at that dratted project all day!"
"Gosh, you look busy, what's that you're working away at?"
"She's up in her room, working away like mad to meet her translation deadline."
It's much hard to come up with an example of it used rather barely, as in the present context.
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
PeterFLee
: Not in the generally accepted meaning of the phrase.
2673 days
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Peter, your disagree is unfounded; 'working away (from home / base)' is indeed a perfectly standard and "accepted meaning of the phrase" — the only doubt is whether or not it is the one required here.
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Discussion
- Have you been working away? or rather
- working away?
actually knows, that his interlocutor has not left the town for a while. Hence, I wonder if he means working hard/a lot here? Could it be just British slang?