plough a lonely furrow Definition

plough
plow
noun

1. A bladed farm implement used to turn over the surface of the soil and bury stubble, weeds, etc, in preparation for the cultivation of a crop.
2. Any similar implement, especially a snowplough.
3. hunting.
Ploughed land.

verb ploughed, ploughing, plowed, plowing

1. To till or turn over (soil, land, etc) with a plough.

Thesaurus: break, cultivate, furrow, turn, dig, ridge, spade, till.
Form: plough something up (also)
intr
2. To make a furrow or to turn over the surface of the soil with a plough.
(Brit)
3a. colloq, old use
To fail (a candidate in an examination);
(Brit)
intr
3b. colloq, old use
Said of a candidate: to fail an examination.

Idiom: plough a lonely furrow

To be separated from one's former friends and associates and go one's own way.

Idiom: put one's hand to the plough

To begin an undertaking.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon plog or ploh.

Phrasal Verb: plough something back

To reinvest (the profits of a business) in that business.

Phrasal Verb: plough something in

To mix (the remains of a crop) with the soil by means of a plough after harvesting.
Example: ploughed the stubble in

Phrasal Verb: plough into something

Said of a vehicle or its driver: to crash into it at speed.
Example: ploughed into the back of the lorry

Phrasal Verb: plough on

To continue with something although progress is laborious.

Phrasal Verb: plough through something

To move through it with a ploughing action.
Example: a boat ploughing through the waves
To make steady but laborious progress with it.