Dictionary

legwork en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈlɛɡˌwɝk/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˈlɛɡˌwɜːk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈleɡˌwɜːk/ (Australia)

Etymology

From leg + work.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) Work, especially research or preparation, that involves significant walking, travel, or similar effort.
   • In addition to spreading more information, brokers are going to have to do some leg work to get new customers. 1955 March 7, “Who'll Buy My Stocks?”, in Time:
   • John did all the legwork. He had the invitations printed and mailed. He found speakers. 2004, Jerry Acuff, The Relationship Edge in Business, page 62:
   • The worldwide effort has already revealed several valuable lessons [including] . . . the use of old-fashioned legwork in tracking down people who may unknowingly carry a virus. 2003 May 1, Peter Spotts, “What the world has done right on SARS”, in Christian Science Monitor, retrieved 05 Jan 2009:
2. (uncountable, usually) Skillful or vigorous use of the legs, as in dance or sports.
   • Fancy legwork and jumping rope will get you in great shape. 2005, Thomas Incledon, Matthew Hoffman, Men's Health Maximum Muscle Plan, page 353:
   • "Watriss, No. 3, is rowing well. . . . His leg work is very fair." 1890 May 11, “Atalanta and Yale Race: An English expert criticizes the crews of Yale and Harvard”, in New York Times, retrieved 05 Jan 2009, page 20:

Forms

Relateds

pound the pavement · footwork · groundwork

Translations (16)

es trabajo de terreno (work, especially research, that involves significant walking) · fi jalkatyö (work, especially research, that involves significant walking) · de Lauferei (work, especially research, that involves significant walking) · hu utánajárás (work, especially research, that involves significant walking) · pl praca nóg (skillful or vigorous use of the legs) · hu gyaloglás (work, especially research, that involves significant walking) · da benarbejde (work, especially research, that involves significant walking) · no fotarbeid (skillful or vigorous use of the legs) · fr travail sur le terrain (work, especially research, that involves significant walking) · da benarbejde (skillful or vigorous use of the legs) · hu lábmunka (skillful or vigorous use of the legs) · de Kleinarbeit (work, especially research, that involves significant walking) · no fotarbeid (work, especially research, that involves significant walking) · fi jalkatyö (skillful or vigorous use of the legs) · de Beinarbeit (skillful or vigorous use of the legs) · pl rutynowe prace (work, especially research, that involves significant walking)