The idiom “all in a day’s work” means that even unpleasant or challenging tasks are part of one’s job or responsibilities. Examples include animal control officers, garbage collectors, exterminators, and parents.
The phrase “all in a day’s work” is an idiom. This means that it is a figure of speech with a different meaning than what it appears to mean. In this case, it means that even if something may seem unpleasant, challenging or bizarre, it’s all part of the routine that falls within your job or other responsibilities.
This idiom could be used as a response to someone mentioning how difficult a task or responsibility is. For example, a person might praise a friend for their ability to keep their composure in their job as a customer service representative, despite the rude nature of many of those customers. In response, the friend might say, “It’s all in a day’s work.”
Many jobs have unpleasant responsibilities, such as those placed on an animal control officer. These workers have to herd animals that are sometimes wild, sick, dirty or ferocious, which can be dangerous. These officers may also be called upon to enforce laws and regulations that affect animals, such as fining people who let their pets escape. In addition to dealing with problem animals, therefore, they also have to deal with irate or difficult members of the public. For an animal control officer, that’s all in a day’s work.
Other workers who have to accept unpleasant conditions include garbage collectors, also known as sanitation engineers. They collect, process, transport and dispose of rubbish and waste left by households and businesses. This is a job most people wouldn’t want to do, especially since it’s such a dirty and obnoxious job. Sanitary engineers, like many workers, mostly view unpleasant conditions as all in a day’s work.
Exterminators also have unpleasant jobs and might reasonably say, “All in a day’s work,” in response to questions about their responsibilities. They could be dealing with thousands of angry bees ready to sting them as they try to drive these dangerous pests out of a house or barn. Exterminators may also have to deal with rodents and cockroaches on a regular basis, often in confined spaces and using potentially dangerous chemicals.
Parents may also find it necessary to use this phrase in relation to their child-rearing responsibilities. While parenting is very enjoyable, sometimes parents have to deal with children who are unruly, disrespectful, or don’t do their best in school. They may also have to work more than one job to provide for their children. Dealing with all of this is all in a day’s work for parents.
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