real chugger

8.2

A person who keeps working hard even when things are difficult

noun

: currante

She managed to finish every project on time because she's a real chugger at work.

Examples

You have to be a real chugger to make it through med school.
Even after hours at the gym, Mark is still a real chugger when everyone else is exhausted.
She is a real chugger who never gives up!
John's a real chugger at work.
Mark stays late to finish his assignments because he is a real chugger who never backs down from a challenge.
During the busy season, Emma proved to be a real chugger, meeting deadlines no matter how tough the tasks were.
To complete the marathon training, you need to be a real chugger and push through even on the hardest days.

Synonyms

plodder

vsreal chugger

1 6.5

A person who works slowly and steadily without much energy or imagination

is about persistent effort through hardship rather than slow, unexcited pace

grafter

vsreal chugger

1 5.8

A person who works very hard at their job

is persistent through difficulties rather than only intense effort

slogger

vsreal chugger

7.4

A person who keeps working for long hours at boring tasks

is about steady continuation despite difficulties rather than task monotony

plugger

vsreal chugger

5.8

A person who works quietly and steadily without seeking praise

is focused on continuing despite difficulty rather than on being unnoticed

Antonyms

quitter

Offensive

42 3.2

A person who gives up easily and does not finish things

slacker

Offensive

33 4.6

A person who avoids work and often does very little

How Persistent

real chugger

8.2

slogger

7.4

hard worker

33 1.3

Surface Forms

real chugger singular

real chuggers plural

Morphology

real + chugger

Although 'real' as an intensifier is transparent, the noun 'chugger' provided is defined as a person who persistently solicits donations, which does not compose to the target meaning 'someone who works hard and persistently'. The intended sense depends on a different, less obvious sense of 'chug' (to proceed or work steadily) or metaphorical extension, so a B1 learner who only knows the given constituent meanings would not reliably infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Real chugger comes from the image of a train that chugs along, moving steadily with strong, regular puffs. That steady movement is like a person who 'works hard' and 'keeps going' through hard times, so the phrase means someone who will keep working no matter what.