KNOW THE MEANING

keep one’s/someone’s grindstone to work very hard without stopping or make (someone) work very hard without stopping: I’ll have to keep my nose to the grindstone if I’m going to finish repairing the car today. The new teacher believes in keeping her pupils’ noses to the grindstone and always give them lots of homework. pull one’s weight to do one’s share of a task: We have to get all the luggage packed up by tonight and so we’ll all have to pull our weight. for nothing without payment: We did all the gardening for nothing - the landowner didn’t give us a penny. pay (someone) peanuts to pay (someone) very little money: James works in a plywood factory and he’s being paid peanuts. look a gift horse in the mouth to complain about something that one has been given: You shouldn’t complain about the job your neighbour gave you - jobs are scarce and you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. not to do a stroke to do no work whatsover: Joe is being paid to look after the garden but so far he hasn’t done a stroke. play havoc with (something) to cause a great deal of damage to (something), to ruin (something):

The earthquake played havoc with the ministerial summit this year. pull strings to use personal influence or power to gain some kind of advantage: Alan's father might have pullied a few strings to get him a job in the law firm - he’s a solicitor. give (someone/something) a wide berth to avoid having contact with (someone or something): The Bayangs advised their son to give the boy next door a wide berth - he had been arrested for taking drugs. a bed of roses (usually found in negative constructions) a very easy and pleasant situation: I know you're having a hard time working in this factory, but my job isn't exactly a bed of roses. nose to the