Help my hunt for an animal verb
November 6, 2014 9:22 PM Subscribe
In the vein of "squirrel away" or "ferret away" (and maybe even "badger"), I'm looking for a verb from the animal kingdom that means working hard at something, persistently and continually.
It's come up a few times where I've wanted to say "Continue animaling away at the problem", but the particular beast I'm looking for eludes me.
Help?
Beavering is also the first thing that came to my mind.
posted by metahawk at 9:57 PM on November 6, 2014
posted by metahawk at 9:57 PM on November 6, 2014
Well, there's "slugging away" meaning pretty much that, but that is not, so far as I know, related to actual slugs.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 9:58 PM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Jon Mitchell at 9:58 PM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
Pecking away?
posted by one_bean at 10:03 PM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by one_bean at 10:03 PM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
Beavering, definitely.
posted by clone boulevard at 10:15 PM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by clone boulevard at 10:15 PM on November 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
"Bearing down on the problem" might also work.
posted by elmer benson at 11:25 PM on November 6, 2014
posted by elmer benson at 11:25 PM on November 6, 2014
Beaver is the first thing that came to my mind too. Though sometimes it seems like flounder would be more appropriate. :(
posted by aubilenon at 12:35 AM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by aubilenon at 12:35 AM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
“To hound” means to pursue relentlessly, and it's sometimes used in the phrase “hounding away at it.”
posted by mbrubeck at 1:00 AM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by mbrubeck at 1:00 AM on November 7, 2014 [3 favorites]
The other animal commonly associated with hard and consistent work is the bee. So you might be thinking of the word "buzzing" or some variation thereof.
posted by Mizu at 2:54 AM on November 7, 2014
posted by Mizu at 2:54 AM on November 7, 2014
Good question!
Where I live/work to "white-ant" (or 'termite') someone or something is to slowly, persistently work for its/their undermining or inevitable collapse.
posted by evil_esto at 2:59 AM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Where I live/work to "white-ant" (or 'termite') someone or something is to slowly, persistently work for its/their undermining or inevitable collapse.
posted by evil_esto at 2:59 AM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Agree, beavering. Also haven't heard slugging away, but have heard plugging away. Not that it's animal-related. There's also working like a dog, but that doesn't have positive connotations.
posted by Athanassiel at 3:49 AM on November 7, 2014
posted by Athanassiel at 3:49 AM on November 7, 2014
Working doggedly.
My first thought was beavers, but "beavering" sounds weird to me.
posted by alms at 4:01 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
My first thought was beavers, but "beavering" sounds weird to me.
posted by alms at 4:01 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Yes to "beavering away." Says Merriam-Webster online:
Definition of BEAVER
intransitive verb
: to work energetically 'beavering away at the problem'
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:32 AM on November 7, 2014
Definition of BEAVER
intransitive verb
: to work energetically 'beavering away at the problem'
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:32 AM on November 7, 2014
There are also a bunch of linguistic metaphors, which aren't quite manner verbs - galloping along, roaring ahead, clawing forward (all for ruthless persistence).
posted by sweltering at 4:44 AM on November 7, 2014
posted by sweltering at 4:44 AM on November 7, 2014
Beavering. For the win!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:08 AM on November 7, 2014
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:08 AM on November 7, 2014
Definitely beavering.
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:19 AM on November 7, 2014
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:19 AM on November 7, 2014
Beavers build huge dams, quickly, without ever appearing rushed.
Is that what you mean to convey?
posted by Lesser Shrew at 5:55 AM on November 7, 2014
Is that what you mean to convey?
posted by Lesser Shrew at 5:55 AM on November 7, 2014
Frog march is being hauled away with your arms pinned behind your back!
Very negative whether the frog-legged one is being falsely imprisoned or rightfully restrained.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 6:31 AM on November 7, 2014
Very negative whether the frog-legged one is being falsely imprisoned or rightfully restrained.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 6:31 AM on November 7, 2014
I've also heard "hanging on to that like a terrier".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:55 AM on November 7, 2014
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:55 AM on November 7, 2014
"hanging on to that like a terrier"
Or "worrying" something like a terrier.
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:57 AM on November 7, 2014
Or "worrying" something like a terrier.
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:57 AM on November 7, 2014
You can bet your ass this MIT affiliate thought of "beavering" first as well. The beaver is Nature's engineer.
posted by Mapes at 8:15 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Mapes at 8:15 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I am now just going to say "animaling away". Beavering sounds strange to me but I suppose it's correct. Doggedly also seems close but it's the wrong form of speech.
posted by sockermom at 8:43 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by sockermom at 8:43 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]
Bird-dogging. I was told to bird-dog something back in the 80s, by a southern country boy, and I have used that expression ever since.
posted by janey47 at 10:02 AM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by janey47 at 10:02 AM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]
Beavering is a good analogy but a crummy word, to my ears. Doesn't lay right, needs a momentary parsing. I don't really have a better suggestion, sorry to say.
Maybe instead of animal specific words try words that describe animal-ish gestures/actions? Keep gnawing on the problem, keep scratching at the problem, keep chewing on the problem, etc?
posted by dirtdirt at 11:50 AM on November 7, 2014
Maybe instead of animal specific words try words that describe animal-ish gestures/actions? Keep gnawing on the problem, keep scratching at the problem, keep chewing on the problem, etc?
posted by dirtdirt at 11:50 AM on November 7, 2014
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posted by Bruce H. at 9:24 PM on November 6, 2014 [19 favorites]