Graft

Graft (noun / verb / UK Slang)

(Also heard as: Hard graft, Grafting, Grafter)

Definition:

Graft is British slang for hard work. “Hard graft” means a lot of effort, and a “grafter” is someone who works hard and does not complain. As a verb, to graft means to put in a lot of effort at a job or task.

Where Graft Comes From:

The word has been used in English since the 1800s for hard labour, possibly from an older dialect word meaning to dig. In the USA, “graft” is mostly used for corruption, which is a very different meaning, so British readers and American readers can be confused. In the UK, it is a compliment for effort.

How People Actually Use Graft:

People say “it was hard graft, but we got there” or “he is a grafter”. In football commentary, a player who works tirelessly is praised for putting in a graft. Some use it ironically for small chores: “I have been grafting all day” after a few emails.

Is Graft the Same as Corruption?

Not in Britain. The US sense of graft as bribery or corruption is a separate meaning, so check which country the speaker is from.

Examples in the Wild:

• “It is hard graft on a building site.”

  Meaning: The work is tiring and physical.

• “She is a real grafter, always first in.”

  Meaning: She works hard.

• “I have been grafting all week for this.”

  Meaning: I put in a lot of effort.

Similar Slang:

Knackered, Locked In, Dosh, Skive, Sorted, Proper

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