工匠在 “磨石 grindstones” 上磨光刀具的时候,弯着腰,脸几乎都贴在磨石上专注地工作。据说,由于磨刀时的姿势看起来非常专注、辛苦,所以人们开始用表达 “keep your nose to the grindstone 鼻子贴在磨石上” 来比喻一个人 “长时间勤奋、专注地做一件事”。这个表达中的动词 “keep” 也可以换作 “put”,即 “put your nose to the grindstone”,意思不变。
If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you’ll do well in your exams.
如果你埋头苦读,你就会考出好成绩。
I had a tight deadline, so I put my nose to the grindstone and got the work done.
我的时间期限很紧,所以我埋头苦干,把工作做完了。
No more messing around! You have to study for your exam, so put your nose to the grindstone!
别再瞎闹了!你必须为了考试好好复习,所以需要埋头读书!