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The Global Insight

What does the phrase plugging away mean?

Author

James Olson

Updated on February 07, 2026

informal. : to continue doing something even though it is difficult or boring —often + at She kept plugging away at her homework.

Where does the phrase keep plugging away come from?

One of the figurative uses of “plug” appearing in the mid-19th century was “to plug away” at something, meaning to work very diligently, also found in the use of “plug” to mean a horse worn down by hard work.

Is it chugging away or plugging away?

Chug verb – Make a dull, explosive sound. Plug away and chug are semantically related. In some cases you can use “Plug away” instead a verb “Chug”.

What does it mean to grind away?

1 : to work or study in a steady, determined way She was grinding away at her studies.

What is a piker mean?

A piker is a broker or investor who makes small size trades. “Piker” is a pejorative slang term used to describe simplistic individuals who are said to have limited impact on the operations of the market or a business.

What does a plug mean?

A plug (or the plug) is a person who has the ability to get or supply hard-to-find items, especially drugs.

What is chugging along?

to continue doing something or developing in the same way as before, but very slowly and steadily. The economy is chugging along nicely, there are plenty of jobs, businesses are growing, and prices aren’t out of control.

What ground off?

1 : to begin to operate or proceed in a successful way The project never really got off the ground. 2 : to cause (something) to begin to operate or proceed in a successful way We’re still trying to get this project off the ground.

What is little piker?

1 : one who gambles or speculates with small amounts of money. 2 : one who does things in a small way also : tightwad, cheapskate.

Where did the term Piker come from?

The first pikers were migrants to California, around the time of the 1849 Gold Rush, from Pike County, Missouri. (The county was named after Zebulon Pike, the soldier and explorer who also gave his name to Pikes Peak in Colorado.) This version of the term came to mean a worthless, lazy, good-for-nothing person.