galley slave

American  

noun

1. a person condemned to work at an oar on a galley.

2. a drudge.

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galley slave British  

noun

1. a criminal or slave condemned to row in a galley

2. informal a drudge

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Etymology

Origin of galley slave

First recorded in 1560–70

Example Sentences

The evil is industrialized labor itself—an entire existence spent like a galley slave pulling an oar.

From The New Yorker • Jul. 23, 2018

While Smith toiled like a galley slave, his daughters studied geometry in French.

From Time Magazine Archive

Under George Sherman's direction, the picture moves with somnambulist deliberateness and Dana Andrews continues his ponderous new style of acting like a mutinous galley slave.

From Time Magazine Archive

Each student also spends at least one 14-hour stretch chained to Westward's diesel stove as "galley slave," cooking for 34 people.

From Time Magazine Archive

I never open a book, but shun them as if they were poison, rise at half-past five o'clock, go to bed at ten, and toil like a galley slave all day, willy, nilly.

From Critical Miscellanies (Vol. 3 of 3) Essay 7: W.R. Greg: A Sketch by Morley, John