Is plough a lonely furrow formal or informal?

It is fairly formal and literary. People use it more in writing than in everyday speech.

Is it the same as work alone?

Not exactly. It also suggests being isolated or different from others.

Can I use it in business writing?

Yes, but only when you want a strong, literary tone. It is not common in plain business English.

← Dictionary

plough-a-lonely-furrow

/ˌplaʊ.ə ˌləʊn.li ˈfʌr.əʊ/

IELTSAcademic

verb

To work or go on in a way that is lonely, independent, and different from other people. It often suggests someone does not follow the crowd.

She chose to plough a lonely furrow in research.
He ploughed a lonely furrow at the new school.

Adinary Nuance

This phrase is more vivid than simply saying "work alone." It suggests independence, isolation, or being different from the group. Compared with "go it alone," it sounds more literary and reflective. Compared with "work independently," it is less neutral and more emotional.

In other languages

Vietnamese: đi một mình
Spanish: ir por libre
Chinese: 独自前行
Japanese: 一匹狼で行く
Korean: 혼자 가다

Etymology

This phrase comes from farming imagery in British English. A lone plough makes a straight line by itself, so the phrase became a figure of speech for working alone.

Common phrases

plough a lonely furrowhave ploughed a lonely furrowploughing a lonely furrow

Synonyms

work alone go it alone act independently

Frequently asked questions

Is plough a lonely furrow formal or informal?: It is fairly formal and literary. People use it more in writing than in everyday speech.
Is it the same as work alone?: Not exactly. It also suggests being isolated or different from others.
Can I use it in business writing?: Yes, but only when you want a strong, literary tone. It is not common in plain business English.