🗒️ Idiom: Work Smarter, Not Harder
💬 Meaning
- Focus on efficiency and use better methods instead of just putting in more effort.
- It means achieving more by planning, organising, and prioritising your work wisely.
🧠 Example Sentences
- Our manager always tells us to work smarter, not harder; automate repetitive tasks and save time.
- If you plan your week carefully, you can work smarter, not harder, and still meet every deadline.
- Modern businesses rely on technology to help employees work smarter, not harder.
🏛️ Origin
This phrase became popular in the 20th century, especially in business and productivity culture. It reflects the shift from manual labour to knowledge-based work. The idea is simple: smart planning and tools can often achieve more than sheer hard work alone.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
You don’t need to stay late every night. Try to __________.
Answer
work smarter, not harder
2. Choose the correct meaning:
What does “work smarter, not harder” mean?
a) Work longer hours
b) Focus on doing tasks efficiently and effectively
c) Avoid work completely
Answer
b) Focus on doing tasks efficiently and effectively
3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:
“Let’s improve our process instead of just adding more people to the team.”
Answer
Let’s work smarter, not harder, by improving our process.
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
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👉 Time Management Idioms
👉 Business English Idioms List
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