laboring oar

1 definition found

laboring oar - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Laboring \La"bor*ing\, a.
     1. That labors; performing labor; esp., performing coarse,
        heavy work, not requiring skill also, set apart for labor;
        as, laboring days.
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              The sleep of a laboring man is sweet. --Eccl. v. 12.
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     2. Suffering pain or grief. --Pope.
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     Laboring oar, the oar which requires most strength and
        exertion; often used figuratively; as, to have, or pull,
        the laboring oar in some difficult undertaking.
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