grindstone
pronunciation
How to pronounce grindstone in British English:
UK [ˈgraɪndstəʊn]
How to pronounce grindstone in American English:
US [ˈgraɪndstoʊn]
-
- Noun:
- a revolving stone shaped like a disk; used to grind or sharpen or polish edge tools
Word Origin
- grindstone (n.)
- early 13c. "millstone," from grind (v.) in sense of "sharpen" + stone (n.); meaning "revolving stone disc used for sharpening, etc." is from c. 1400. Phrase nose to the grindstone in use by 1530s; originally to get control of another and treat him harshly:This Text holdeth their noses so hard to the grindstone, that it clean disfigureth their Faces. [John Frith, "Mirror to know Thyself," 1532]The phrase's main modern (reflexive) sense of "working hard" is from 1828.
Example
- 1. Our bodies , slam themselves against the grindstone .
- 2. We have to put our nose to the grindstone if we want to finish painting the house today .
- 3. A workman carefully exposed the object further and next saw its rounded back , which the archaeologists thought might be a grindstone .
- 4. I never mind your unkind reminding thinside my grindstone hinders your cylinder .
- 5. I never mind your unkind reminding thover at my grindstone hindersyour cylinder .