Cool MateThe sweat of your brows vs Toil
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
The sweat of your brows
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Toil
Top 3,000 (common)B1verb
Most common: Toil
| The sweat of your brows | Toil | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ðə swɛt ʌv jɔː braʊz//🇺🇸 //ðə swɛt əv jʊr braʊz// | 🇬🇧 //tɔɪl//🇺🇸 //tɔɪl// |
| Meaning | Working hard and putting in effort. | To work very hard or struggle. |
| Example | He achieved success through the sweat of his brows, working late nights and weekends. | She had toiling hours on the farm from dawn to dusk. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | earn by the sweat of your brows, the fruits of your labor, put in hard work, achieve through effort, struggle for success | toil away, toil in the fields, toil for success |
| Antonyms | - | rest, idle, relax |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'the blood, sweat, and tears' phrase., Using it in casual contexts where simpler phrases are better., Overusing the expression in non-work related contexts. | Confused with 'boil' in pronunciation., Using it in a context where less effort is implied., Misunderstanding it as only physical labor. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase to emphasize the effort invested in completing a task. It's often used in contexts of hard work and dedication but may feel somewhat old-fashioned. | Used in both formal and informal contexts, often emphasizes hard work or effort over a long period. |
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Frequently asked questions: The sweat of your brows vs Toil
What's the difference between The sweat of your brows and Toil?
The sweat of your brows: Working hard and putting in effort. Toil: To work very hard or struggle.
Which is more common: The sweat of your brows and Toil?
Toil is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
The sweat of your brows: He achieved success through the sweat of his brows, working late nights and weekends. Toil: She had toiling hours on the farm from dawn to dusk.
Can I use The sweat of your brows and Toil interchangeably?
Not always. The sweat of your brows and Toil are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.