Plugging along

Posted by Smokey Stover on January 03, 2010 at 02:02

In Reply to: Plugging along posted by Glo_wing on January 02, 2010 at 21:50:

: Where does the phrase "plugging along" come from?

The Oxford English Dictionary includes the use that you refer to: (s.v. plug, v.) "5. intr. To work steadily away at something; to persevere doggedly; to plod, to move steadily. Freq. with away, along, etc."

The OED gives examples from 1867 forward, but only in 1900 goes it find an example exactly like what you have in mind. I don't see the connection with plugging something up or putting a plug in something. There might be a connection with old, worn-out horses that are sometimes called plugs, but which way the connection goes I know not.
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