20 Other Ways to Say “Long Hours”

“Long hours” is a phrase we often use to describe extended periods of work or sustained activity that stretch beyond the usual timeframe, especially when referring to demanding jobs, intensive study sessions, or long-term projects. For example, if someone says, “She’s been putting in long hours at the office,” it typically means they are dedicating more time than what’s considered standard, often resulting in mental or physical exhaustion.

Still, while the term is widely understood, there are many other expressions that can capture the same idea, often with added nuance depending on the situation—whether it’s highlighting the intensity, the commitment, or the toll those hours take. This article explores alternative phrases that you can use in both writing and conversation to express the concept of working or staying active for long stretches of time.

Other Ways to Say “Long Hours”

1. Extended Shifts

Example: “The nurses had to work extended shifts during the holiday weekend.”
Meaning: Refers to work periods that go significantly beyond the standard length of a shift, typically in professional settings like hospitals or factories.
Usage: Most often used in healthcare, emergency response, and other industries where shifts are scheduled in blocks of time.

2. Long Stretches

Example: “He studied for long stretches without taking breaks.”
Meaning: Describes long, uninterrupted periods of activity, usually implying mental or physical effort over time.
Usage: Appropriate for both work and academic settings, and even for recreational activities requiring focus.

3. Marathon Sessions

Example: “We had a marathon session to finish the project before the deadline.”
Meaning: Highlights the intensity and extended duration of a task, typically one that’s mentally or physically draining.
Usage: Informal but vivid; often used to describe creative work, meetings, or study sessions that last far longer than expected.

4. Burning the Midnight Oil

Example: “She’s been burning the midnight oil preparing for her final exams.”
Meaning: A metaphorical way to express working late into the night, suggesting dedication and sacrifice.
Usage: Often used in both casual and literary contexts, especially to emphasize hard work or late-night effort.

5. Overtime Hours

Example: “Most employees had to put in overtime hours this month.”
Meaning: Refers to time worked beyond the regular working hours, typically paid extra and associated with formal labor rules.
Usage: Common in corporate and industrial environments, especially in jobs that involve hourly wages or labor contracts.

6. Putting in Extra Time

Example: “She’s been putting in extra time to master the new software.”
Meaning: Highlights the voluntary or necessary commitment to work beyond what’s expected, often for personal growth or to meet deadlines.
Usage: Broad and widely applicable in both professional and academic contexts.

7. Working Around the Clock

Example: “Technicians have been working around the clock to restore power.”
Meaning: Indicates continuous work without pause, usually covering all hours of the day and night in rotating or shared shifts.
Usage: Frequently used during emergencies or high-stakes projects requiring uninterrupted attention.

8. Grinding It Out

Example: “He’s been grinding it out for twelve hours straight to get this done.”
Meaning: A more casual, modern phrase that conveys persistence and hard effort over an extended period.
Usage: Common in younger or informal communities, particularly in discussions about side hustles, startups, or creative work.

9. Pulling a Double

Example: “She pulled a double at the restaurant yesterday and barely had time to eat.”
Meaning: Refers to working two shifts back-to-back, often totaling sixteen or more hours in one day.
Usage: Mostly used in service industries like food, retail, or healthcare where shift work is common.

10. Clocking Long Hours

Example: “He’s been clocking long hours to meet the quarterly targets.”
Meaning: Suggests formal tracking of extended work time, with “clocking” referring to time-keeping systems or schedules.
Usage: Often used in business or office settings where productivity is measured in hours worked.

11. Running on Empty

Example: “After back-to-back shifts, she was running on empty.”
Meaning: This phrase emphasizes extreme fatigue from continuous work, suggesting that the person has exhausted their energy reserves.
Usage: Best used informally or in storytelling to highlight the toll of prolonged exertion.

12. Pulling an All-Nighter

Example: “He pulled an all-nighter to finish the presentation.”
Meaning: Staying awake all night to work or study, often due to urgency or poor planning.
Usage: Common among students and professionals with tight deadlines; informal tone.

13. Working Late into the Night

Example: “The designer worked late into the night to finalize the layout.”
Meaning: Similar to burning the midnight oil, but more neutral; focuses on extended work hours during the night.
Usage: Can be used in both formal and casual contexts.

14. Tied to the Desk

Example: “She’s been tied to the desk all week prepping the budget report.”
Meaning: Suggests being constantly occupied with desk work, often to the point of neglecting breaks or personal time.
Usage: Often informal, conveys a strong image of mental fatigue.

15. Nose to the Grindstone

Example: “With the new product launch approaching, the whole team has their nose to the grindstone.”
Meaning: A metaphor for focused, relentless effort over long periods.
Usage: Common in motivational or descriptive language to praise work ethic.

16. Back-to-Back Meetings

Example: “My day was filled with back-to-back meetings from morning to evening.”
Meaning: Describes a packed schedule with no breaks in between tasks or meetings.
Usage: Common in corporate settings or busy work environments.

17. Continuous Hours

Example: “They worked continuous hours to meet the publishing deadline.”
Meaning: Refers to uninterrupted time spent on a task, often highlighting stamina or urgency.
Usage: Suitable in both formal and technical settings.

18. Unbroken Shifts

Example: “Factory workers endured unbroken shifts during the production rush.”
Meaning: Long work periods without any significant pause or relief, often regulated by labor policies.
Usage: Often appears in discussions about labor rights or challenging working conditions.

19. Long Grind

Example: “Finishing the manuscript was a long grind, but worth it in the end.”
Meaning: Informal phrase suggesting steady, monotonous, or difficult work done over a long time.
Usage: Suitable for informal or reflective contexts, often involving creative or intellectual work.

20. Around-the-Clock Work

Example: “The emergency crews engaged in around-the-clock work to clear the roads.”
Meaning: Like “working around the clock,” it emphasizes 24/7 operations or continuous effort.
Usage: Common in journalistic or official reports describing crisis management or intense operations.

When to Use Different “Long Hours” Alternatives

In Workplace or Business Settings

In formal environments like offices, corporate teams, or production facilities, terms such as “overtime hours,” “extended shifts,” and “clocking long hours” are often preferred because they reflect measured, scheduled work and sometimes have implications for compensation or labor rights. These phrases are professional and indicate a clear time commitment.

In Informal and Everyday Contexts

In casual conversations with friends or colleagues, you might opt for more relaxed phrases such as “pulling an all-nighter,” “grinding it out,” or “running on empty”—all of which emphasize the human side of working hard, often with humor or empathy.

In Writing and Storytelling

For creative writing, blog posts, or storytelling, metaphorical expressions like “burning the midnight oil,” “nose to the grindstone,” or “tied to the desk” offer vivid imagery that draws readers in and conveys emotional intensity. These phrases add flair and personality while still effectively describing long work hours.

Conclusion

While “long hours” is a clear and commonly understood phrase, the variety of expressions available allows writers, speakers, and professionals to better tailor their language to suit the tone, context, and purpose of their communication. Whether you’re describing a demanding job, capturing a character’s work ethic in a story, or simply trying to avoid repetition in your writing, having multiple ways to say “long hours” makes your language more dynamic and expressive.

By choosing the right phrase for the right context—whether it’s technical, emotional, humorous, or dramatic—you can communicate not just the duration of work, but the tone and experience behind it.

FAQs

What does “long hours” mean?

“Long hours” generally refers to periods of work or effort that extend well beyond the standard or expected time frame, often associated with hard work, fatigue, or dedication.

Are there more formal ways to say “long hours”?

Yes. Phrases like “overtime hours,” “extended shifts,” and “continuous hours” are more suitable in professional or formal contexts.

Can I use idioms instead of “long hours”?

Absolutely. Idiomatic expressions like “burning the midnight oil” or “nose to the grindstone” add color and character to your language while conveying the same idea.

Is “working long hours” always negative?

Not necessarily. While it can imply exhaustion or overwork, it can also suggest dedication, ambition, and commitment—depending on how it’s framed in conversation or writing.