Slave Away at – Conversation Practice

Amy: Look at all this food you cooked! You must have been slaving away in the kitchen all day.

Erin: Actually, it took me two days to make all of this. I slaved away at cooking for two whole days.

Amy: You’re amazing. Everybody is going to love and appreciate all of your hard work.

Erin: I hope so. I want to make this a very special Thanksgiving because it is the first time in 10 years that our whole family will be together.

Amy: I know. It’s so exciting. Anyway, you should go and rest. Let me clean up the kitchen and do the dishes.

Erin: It’s okay. I can do it.

Amy: No, I insist. You have done enough already.

Erin: Thank you.

1. to slave away at: to work extremely hard at doing something

  • She slaved away at preparing the office for the party.

  • My mother made me slave away at cleaning the house.

2. to clean up: to organize or make neat

  • She cleaned up her room.

  • I make my children clean up their room before they play.

3. to insist (on doing something): to strongly and firmly encourage, suggest, or demand

  • She insisted on paying.

  • I didn’t want him to do the work, but he insisted on doing it.