Meaning of spadework | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Work done by digging with a spade.
   uncountable
2. Work done in preparation for something else.
   figuratively, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“It is this help⟳ that the present⟳ book attempts to give⟳, and the moment of its appearance, during a partial lull of excavation, is an opportune one. There is a chance to take⟳ breath and gather up the threads, with the possibility that the next month's spade-work will not put⟳ us out of date⟳.”

“There's a lot of spadework to be done before the scheme can be implemented.”

“Removing a portion of chair which had got entangled in my back hair, I said with a candour that became me well: “I was looking for a mouse.” If she had replied, “Ah, yes, indeed. I understand⟳ now. A mouse, to be sure. Quite,” everything would have⟳ been nice and smooth, but she didn't. “A mouse?” she said. “What do you mean⟳?” Well, of course, if she didn't know⟳ what a mouse was, there was evidently a good deal⟳ of tedious spadework before us, and one would scarcely have⟳ known where to start⟳.”

“Some essential spadework, on which certain details of the plan⟳ will be founded, is yet unfinished.”

CEFR level