strenuous labor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strenuous labor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe work that requires a lot of physical effort and is often demanding or exhausting. Example: "The construction workers engaged in strenuous labor under the hot sun, ensuring the building was completed on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

His daughter, the complainant, is a "thick-bodied girl accustomed to strenuous labor".

The New Yorker

And despite the evident ingenuity and strenuous labor that went into it, "The Cabin in the Woods" does not quite work.

The New York Times

For now he is trying to appreciate having a break — even if it's mostly unpaid — from a year and a half of strenuous labor.

The New York Times

GCS's thresher speeds up the process, can be transported around to other farms, and reduces the strenuous labor associated with these traditional methods.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But as effort and reward become ever more disconnected, what happens when strenuous labor is met with little money, or reward comes effortlessly, sometimes via inheritance?

The Guardian

The tradition of large, hearty breakfasts began with hard-working people who needed to fuel up for a morning of strenuous labor.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

After lunch, we returned to the factory and Struth went back to his strenuous labors under the photographer's cloth, with Hirsch hovering nearby, performing his assisting functions when Struth signalled for them.

The New Yorker

They also earn just over the minimum wage for their often-strenuous labor, making less than $20,000 a year on average.

Huffington Post

There is no strenuous mental labor here.

The New York Times

That approach, he argued, would be harmful to people who do strenuous manual labor and physically cannot postpone retirement.

The New York Times

The scholarly reports, alluded to in some of the displays, show injuries to bones attributed to strenuous physical labor, signs of malnutrition and some physical indications (like filed teeth) of an African heritage.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical work that is exceptionally demanding, using "strenuous labor" helps convey the intensity and effort involved. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "strenuous labor" when describing tasks that are only moderately demanding. Simpler terms like "hard work" or "physical activity" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strenuous labor" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "strenuous" modifies the noun "labor". As supported by Ludwig, this combination effectively describes work that requires significant physical effort. It identifies a specific type of work characterized by its demanding nature.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strenuous labor" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe physically demanding work. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts such as news, academia, and science. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, it is best used when the intensity of the work needs to be emphasized. Alternatives like "arduous work" or "demanding tasks" may be more appropriate in less intense contexts. The phrase effectively conveys the effort and physical requirements associated with various jobs and activities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arduous work

Focuses on the difficulty and demanding nature of the work.

grueling effort

Emphasizes the exhausting and physically taxing aspect of the work.

taxing activity

Highlights the draining and demanding aspects of the activity.

demanding tasks

Focuses on the high requirements and challenges of the tasks involved.

laborious job

Highlights the effort and dedication needed for the job.

hard graft

An informal way to describe hard work, especially physical labor.

intensive workload

Focuses on the amount of work and its demanding nature.

vigorous exertion

Highlights the energy and effort expended.

heavy lifting

A more literal description of physically demanding work.

backbreaking toil

Emphasizes the physically damaging nature of the labor.

FAQs

How can I use "strenuous labor" in a sentence?

You can use "strenuous labor" to describe jobs or activities that require significant physical effort. For example, "Construction workers often engage in "strenuous labor"".

What are some alternatives to "strenuous labor"?

Alternatives include "arduous work", "demanding tasks", or "grueling effort", depending on the specific context.

Is "strenuous labor" a formal or informal phrase?

"Strenuous labor" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it is generally perceived as more formal than phrases like "hard work".

What kind of jobs typically involve "strenuous labor"?

Jobs that typically involve "strenuous labor" include construction, farming, logging, and mining.