Cool MateStrive vs Work your heart out
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Strive
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Work your heart out
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Most formal: StriveMost common: Strive
| Strive | Work your heart out | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/straɪv/","/straɪvz/","/strəʊv/","/straɪvd/","/ˈstrɪvn/","/ˈstraɪvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/straɪv/","/straɪvz/","/strəʊv/","/straɪvd/","/ˈstrɪvn/","/ˈstraɪvɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wɜːk jɔː hɑːt aʊt//🇺🇸 //wɜrk jʊr hɑrt aʊt// |
| Meaning | To work hard to achieve something. | To try very hard and put in a lot of effort. |
| Example | We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards. | She worked her heart out to finish the project on time. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | hard, mightily, desperately, after, against, for | work your heart out for a goal, work your heart out in a competition, work your heart out at a job |
| Antonyms | relax, surrender, give up | slack off, take it easy, laze around, give up |
| Common mistakes | 'Strive' is often confused with 'strive for'; remember it needs 'to' before a verb., Some learners use 'strived' as the past tense, but it's 'strove' or 'strived' depending on context., Mixing up 'strive' with 'thrive' due to similar sounds. | Omitting 'your heart out' and saying just 'work hard'., Using it in overly formal contexts., Confusing it with 'work hard,' which is less emphatic. |
| Usage notes | Use 'strive' in contexts where you want to emphasize effort towards a goal. It's appropriate in both formal and informal situations but may sound overly dramatic for casual conversations. | Use this phrase in casual settings, often among friends. It may not be suitable for formal discussions or professional environments. |
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Frequently asked questions: Strive vs Work your heart out
What's the difference between Strive and Work your heart out?
Strive: To work hard to achieve something. Work your heart out: To try very hard and put in a lot of effort.
Which is more formal: Strive and Work your heart out?
Strive is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Strive and Work your heart out?
Strive is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Strive: We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards. Work your heart out: She worked her heart out to finish the project on time.
Can I use Strive and Work your heart out interchangeably?
Not always. Strive and Work your heart out 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.