駑ど馬ばに鞭むち打うつ

expression, godan verb (-tsu)

work hard; keep one's nose to the grindstone

Humble expression used to describe one's own persistent effort, often despite limited ability. Literally 'to whip a jaded horse'.

• 私わたしも駑ど馬ばに鞭むち打うって、この仕し事ごとを最さい後ごまでやり遂とげます。

  I will also work hard and see this job through to the end.

expression, godan verb (-tsu)

push someone beyond their ability

Original meaning: to force someone to do something beyond their capacity. Now rare; the humble self-reference sense is more common.

• 古ふるい文ぶん献けんでは、駑ど馬ばに鞭むち打うつは、能のう力りょく以い上じょうのことをさせる意い味みで使つかわれている。

  In old texts, 駑馬に鞭打つ is used to mean making someone do more than they are capable of.