Long hours
Meaning
Extended periods spent working, often exceeding typical full-time expectations or standard shifts.
Origin
Before the roar of steam engines and the endless clatter of looms, work was largely dictated by the sun and seasons. Farmers toiled from dawn till dusk, but their rhythm was often organic, punctuated by breaks and varied tasks. The true tyranny of 'long hours' began with the Industrial Revolution, fundamentally altering the nature of work. As factories demanded continuous output, workers—men, women, and even children—were trapped in shifts stretching 12, 14, or even 16 hours, six days a week. The phrase itself, though seemingly simple, became a rallying cry, a stark descriptor of the brutal, dehumanizing conditions that propelled the fight for an eight-hour workday, fundamentally reshaping modern labor and our understanding of time spent at work.
Examples
- Working in the tech industry often means putting in long hours, especially before a major product launch.
- She was exhausted after a week of long hours at the hospital, caring for her patients through multiple emergencies.