The man worked hard to earn a living.

Meaning: The adult male human being put in a lot of effort to receive money for work or services performed so that he can live.

Choice of Words: Man is an adult male human being. Worked means to do physical or mental effort in order to achieve a result. Hard means requiring a lot of effort or energy. Earn means to receive money for work or services performed. Living is the state of being alive.

Alternative Expressions

The man labored diligently to secure his livelihood.

Meaning: This means that the man put in a lot of careful effort to make sure that he had the money he needed to support himself.

Choice of Words: Labored is a more formal word for worked that emphasizes the difficulty of the work. Diligently is an adverb that means with care and attention to detail. Secure is a verb that means to make sure of something. Livelihood is a more formal word for living that refers to the means by which someone earns money.

The individual engaged in strenuous exertion to procure sustenance.

Meaning: This means that the person put in a lot of effort to get the things he needed to survive.

Choice of Words: Individual is a more formal word for man that emphasizes the person's individuality. Engaged is a verb that means to take part in something. Strenuous is an adjective that means requiring a lot of effort. Exertion is a noun that refers to the effort that someone puts into something. Procure is a verb that means to get something. Sustenance is a noun that refers to the food and other things that someone needs to survive.

Related Expressions