as in challenging
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
she loves coming up with the "big idea" but hates the actual pick-and-shovel work of starting a new business
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Recent Examples of pick-and-shovel
Constellation Energy has surged 94% as a pick-and-shovel beneficiary of the AI boom.
—
Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024
The biggest beneficiaries here aren’t only the flashy tech giants but also the pick-and-shovel players: processor makers, cooling system vendors, and the unsung heroes of database architecture etc.
—Kjartan Rist, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
So far with Big Tech spending at an all-time high—fueled by a fear of being left behind—the pick-and-shovel approach has been paying dividends.
—Peter Andersen, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
The core operation and a smattering of pick-and-shovel prospects mined the surface gold that was easily extracted by hand from exposed late Cretaceous-period rocks that shed bits of precious minerals in flakes, nuggets and dust.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 26 Jan. 2024
Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024
The biggest beneficiaries here aren’t only the flashy tech giants but also the pick-and-shovel players: processor makers, cooling system vendors, and the unsung heroes of database architecture etc.
—Kjartan Rist, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
So far with Big Tech spending at an all-time high—fueled by a fear of being left behind—the pick-and-shovel approach has been paying dividends.
—Peter Andersen, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
The core operation and a smattering of pick-and-shovel prospects mined the surface gold that was easily extracted by hand from exposed late Cretaceous-period rocks that shed bits of precious minerals in flakes, nuggets and dust.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 26 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pick-and-shovel
Adjective
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But the alternative—growing real red blood cells outside the body—has proved even more challenging.—
Nicola Twilley,
The New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2025
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Shakira has had a challenging time since splitting from her ex Gerard Piqué.—
Ilana Kaplan,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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An aviation expert, along with the Army pilot, tells PEOPLE that Reagan National Airport can be especially difficult to fly into.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
30 Jan. 2025
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Challenges of an Airline Pilot's Lifestyle Beyond the technical demands of the job, Wallach said the most difficult part of being a pilot was the lifestyle—particularly as a single parent.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Strings — and the fact the Nampa show happens May 20, before Idaho temperatures boil — makes this music lineup tough to resist.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Feb. 2025
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On the other hand, Hill has had a tough time recently.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Every credit card story is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit products.—
Ryley Amond,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2025
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In today's digital age, companies are entrusted with vast amounts of personal data, and breaches like this demonstrate the need for rigorous security measures.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But since his accident, Edwards has dedicated his life to exploration, already completing more physically demanding challenges than most do in a lifetime.—
Amy Woodyatt,
CNN,
31 Jan. 2025
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Best for Conservationists John Muir Way, Scotland Not to be confused with California’s more demanding John Muir Trail, the John Muir Way is a relatively new route (established around 10 years ago) that stretches coast to coast across Muir’s home country of Scotland.—
Megan Michelson,
Outside Online,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
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Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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Just a few generations ago, many young children died from infectious diseases, which are still formidable foes globally.—
Brooke Redmond,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
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The formidable musician and actor, a muse to many but so much more than that moniker allows, a style icon, and a megawatt star of the Swinging Sixties—with the coolest eyewear to match.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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What is not complicated or open to conjecture is that Miami’s defense would be better with Garrett than without him.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
3 Feb. 2025
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To make matters more complicated, Sundance’s virtual platform, which has been in place since 2021 and allows those unable to attend in person to view select titles at home, is now under threat thanks to some viewers recording clips and posting them on social media.—
Harrison Richlin,
IndieWire,
2 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near pick-and-shovel
Cite this Entry
“Pick-and-shovel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pick-and-shovel. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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