stroke of work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stroke of work" is not correct and does not appear to be a standard expression in written English.
It seems to be a misinterpretation of "stroke of luck" or "piece of work," but without context, it is unclear how it could be used. Example: "After a long stroke of work, we finally completed the project." (Note: This is not a standard usage.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I don't really recall doing a stroke of work.

The Guardian

(Really!) I've been so busy finding ways to make teaching easy that I haven't done a stroke of work.

The New Yorker

Beckham junior is nine months old and has never done a stroke of work in his life, yet he'll soon be driving around in the lap of luxury.

The Guardian - Books

The streets are filled with parades of elaborate floats, there's lots to eat and drink and nobody does a stroke of work.

The Economist

In 2012 a German civil servant wrote a farewell message to his colleagues, on his retirement, confessing that he hadn't done a stroke of work for the past 14 years.

The Economist

- Every stroke of work not done will shorten the war!" According to the forward to the first German edition, the novel follows "in its broad lines" the Gestapo files on the illegal activities of an actual Berlin working-class couple, Otto and Elise Hampel.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The game developed as a sofa sport for millions, atomized, no longer a regular broad stroke of working class cohesion.

Huffington Post

Collaborative filtering does thrive, but only in a form that requires not a key stroke of extra work by users.

The New York Times

But when this Rothko says there is "tragedy in every brush stroke" of his work, we believe him.

The New York Times

And avoiding the practice of hiring assistants to paint in fabrics and clouds, he did every stroke of the work himself.

The New York Times - Arts

Judge Lynn Roberts last year agreed that there was no good reason why Wright had not done a stroke of paid work in the six years since the divorce.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a small amount of work, consider using more common and accepted phrases like "bit of effort" or "lick of work" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "stroke of work" when you mean "stroke of luck". The former is not a recognized idiom and can lead to confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stroke of work" functions as a noun phrase, intending to describe a minimal amount of effort or labor. However, Ludwig indicates that the phrase is not a standard expression in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stroke of work" is not a standard or widely accepted expression in English, as Ludwig AI indicates. While it appears in some sources, it's often used to convey the idea of a minimal amount of effort. Due to its questionable grammatical correctness, it's advisable to use alternatives such as "piece of work", "bit of effort", or "lick of work" to ensure clarity. When intending to communicate about luck and fortune, instead, using "stroke of luck" is advised.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lick of work

Implies minimal amount of work.

bit of effort

Implies a small amount of exertion, similar to the intended meaning of "stroke of work".

piece of work

Refers to a task or creation, differing from "stroke of work" which implies a small amount of effort.

spell of work

This refers to a period of time spent working. A subtle difference, focused on duration.

quantum of work

Denotes a specific quantity or amount of labor, offering a more formal substitute.

bout of work

Suggests a short period of intense activity, slightly changing the emphasis.

session of work

Describes a dedicated time for work. Slightly different emphasis.

act of working

Refers to the general process of performing labor.

instance of working

Implies a particular case or occurrence of doing work.

stroke of luck

Emphasizes fortune rather than effort, differing sharply in meaning.

FAQs

Is "stroke of work" grammatically correct?

While some instances of "stroke of work" appear in writing, it is not a standard or widely accepted phrase. It may be misinterpreted; consider using alternatives like "piece of work" or "bit of effort".

What does "stroke of work" mean?

The intended meaning of "stroke of work" is generally understood as a small amount of work or effort. However, its non-standard usage can cause confusion.

What can I use instead of "stroke of work"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "piece of work", "bit of effort", or "lick of work".

Is "stroke of work" related to "stroke of luck"?

While they both use the word "stroke", they have different meanings. "Stroke of luck" refers to a fortunate event, whereas "stroke of work" (though less common) implies a small amount of effort.