slog
B2informal, sometimes slightly colloquial
Definition
Meaning
To work hard over a long period, especially at a difficult or tiring task; to walk or move with great effort or determination.
To hit something hard, especially in sports like cricket or baseball; a period of hard, difficult, or tiring work; a long, arduous journey.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Slog often implies laborious effort that is monotonous, prolonged, and lacking in glamour. It can be used transitively ('slog through a report') or intransitively ('We slogged all day').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The meaning of prolonged hard work is common in both. 'Slog' as a noun meaning a period of hard work (e.g., 'a real slog') is very common in BrE. In AmE, it might be understood but used slightly less frequently in that sense. The cricket/baseball hitting sense differs based on the sport's popularity.
Connotations
In BrE, it strongly connotes British 'grit' and endurance. In AmE, it can sound slightly British-influenced but is perfectly understood.
Frequency
More frequent in British English overall, but widely used and understood in American English, especially the verb form.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
slog through somethingslog away (at something)slog your way + prepositional phraseslog it outVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Slog your guts out”
- “A long hard slog”
- “Slog it out (to fight or compete until a conclusion)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe finishing a large, tedious project: 'The team slogged through the end-of-year audits.'
Academic
Describes working through dense material: 'Students had to slog through hundreds of pages of primary sources.'
Everyday
Common for chores, commutes, or difficult tasks: 'I had to slog through the supermarket on a Saturday.'
Technical
In computing, can describe a processor-intensive, inefficient process: 'The old algorithm just slogged through the data.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We had to slog through the mud to reach the campsite.
- He's been slogging away at his dissertation for months.
- The batsman slogged the ball over the boundary for six.
American English
- I slogged through that report all weekend.
- We slogged up the trail in the midday heat.
- He just slogged a home run into the upper deck.
adverb
British English
- He walked slog through the deep snow. (rare, poetic)
American English
- They worked slog through the night to finish. (rare, informal)
adjective
British English
- It was a slog match in the rain, with neither team scoring easily.
- The final part of the hike was a real slog section.
American English
- The project's slog phase is finally over.
- It was a slog journey back home in the storm.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We slogged in the garden all day.
- The walk to school is a long slog.
- She slogged through her homework for three hours.
- It was a real slog cleaning the whole house.
- After slogging away at the proposal, he finally submitted it.
- The novel is brilliant, but the middle section is a bit of a slog.
- The negotiations were a gruelling slog, with little progress made for weeks.
- They slogged their way through the bureaucratic red tape to get the permits.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SLOW JOGger (sounds like 'slog') struggling up a hill – it's hard, slow, effortful work.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS A JOURNEY THROUGH MUD / DIFFICULT WORK IS PHYSICAL STRAIN.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'тянуть' or 'тащиться' which imply unwilling dragging; 'slog' implies willing, determined effort despite difficulty. Not the same as 'работать как лошадь' which is more about heavy labour; 'slog' is more about endurance over time.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'slog' for a short burst of intense work (incorrect; it implies duration). Confusing 'slog' with 'slag' (to criticize). Incorrect preposition: 'slog on a report' instead of 'slog through a report'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these best describes the core meaning of 'slog'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral-to-slightly-negative, emphasising the difficulty and lack of enjoyment in the task, but can imply admirable perseverance.
Yes, very commonly, especially in BrE (e.g., 'The last mile was a real slog').
Both imply slow, laborious progress. 'Plod' suggests a steady, monotonous pace, often walking. 'Slog' emphasises the heavy, strenuous effort required.
It is informal. In formal writing, synonyms like 'toil', 'labour', or 'work assiduously' might be preferred.