someone's arse off

English

Alternative forms

• someone's ass off (US spelling)

Adverb

someone's arse off (British spelling, vulgar) (adverbial phrase)

1. (reflexive) With great effort, vigour or gusto, or to the point of excess.

   I've been working my arse off all day for a measly few quid.

   What a gig! The band played their arses off.

   We partied our arses off all night long.

   I didn't notice – I was too busy laughing my arse off!

2. (reflexive) Used as a general negative intensifier: to an extreme degree.

   I remember how we were all sweating our arses off during that heatwave.

   I could be sitting on a beach somewhere rather than freezing my arse off in this dump.

3. (non-reflexive) So as to rigorously exercise or exhaust someone.

   The boss has been working our arses off all week.

   He may be 50 years old, but he could still run your arse off.

Usage notes

Frequently used with the verb work, but many other verbs are also possible. Reflexive use is more common than non-reflexive. See ass § Usage notes regarding the metonymy (and the potential reflexivity). To work one's arse off is thus to wear oneself down and figuratively to wear one's ass away as if by attrition.

Synonyms

• someone's butt off, someone's buns off, someone's tits off, someone's nuts off, someone's balls off, someone's bollocks off, someone's dick off (all vulgar)
• someone's tail off (inoffensive or euphemistic)

Translations

For translations with work, see work someone's ass off.

See also

• one's socks off