work someone's tail off

• work one's tail off

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work someone's tail off (third-person singular simple present works someone's tail off, present participle working someone's tail off, simple past and past participle worked someone's tail off)

1. (transitive, slang) To cause someone to work hard, e.g. as a supervisor.

• This is the least vulgar of the group of synonyms.

• work someone's arse off (UK)
• work someone's ass off (most vulgar)
• work someone's butt off (vulgar)