work long hours

Meaning

This expression means to spend more time working than the standard eight-hour workday. It is commonly used in professional environments to describe periods of high workload, tight deadlines, or demanding roles. The tone is neutral and descriptive, but it can sometimes carry a slightly tired or complaining undertone depending on the context.

Examples

• During the tax season, accountants usually have to work long hours to meet the deadlines.

  During the tax season, accountants usually have to work long hours to meet the deadlines.

• I don't mind working long hours if the project is interesting and the team is supportive.

  I don't mind working long hours if the project is interesting and the team is supportive.

• She had to work long hours last week, so she is taking Friday off to recover.

  She had to work long hours last week, so she is taking Friday off to recover.

• Many startup founders work long hours in the first year to get their business off the ground.

  Many startup founders work long hours in the first year to get their business off the ground.

• If you constantly work long hours, you might experience burnout and lose motivation.

  If you constantly work long hours, you might experience burnout and lose motivation.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I have to work long times this week to finish the project.

  ✓ I have to work long hours this week to finish the project.

  English learners often translate literally from their native languages and use 'time' or 'times'. In English, the natural collocation for an extended workday is always 'long hours'.

• ✗ Our team usually works for long hours during product launches.

  ✓ Our team usually works long hours during product launches.

  Do not use the preposition 'for' directly before 'long hours' when it functions as the adverbial description of how you work. 'Work long hours' is the standard verb-noun pattern.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If we want to launch the software by next Monday, we will need to ___ this weekend.

  💡 Think of the phrase that means spending more time than usual at the office.

  Show answer

  work long hours

• She is completely exhausted because she has been ___ all week.

  💡 Remember to use the -ing form for the present perfect continuous tense.

  Show answer

  working long hours