Legwork is the hard, often boring work you have to do in order to get something done — walking around, knocking on doors, making calls, checking facts, going from place to place. A reporter does legwork to find a story; a student does it to gather names for a project.

Legwork islegwork指的是 the hard, often boring work那種辛苦、常常很無聊的工作 you have to do你得做的 in order to get something done才能把事情辦成 — walking around, knocking on doors, making calls, checking facts, going from place to place到處走、挨家挨戶敲門、打電話、查證、跑來跑去. A reporter does legwork記者做legwork to find a story是為了找新聞; a student does it學生做這個 to gather names for a project是為了替報告蒐集名單.

The picture behind the word is your legs: someone had to go out and move. Today it also covers sitting on the phone or searching through papers, as long as it is the slow, necessary grind, not the clever idea at the end.

The picture behind the word這個字背後的畫面 is your legs就是你的腿: someone had to go out and move得有人親自出去跑動. Today it also covers現在它也包括 sitting on the phone or searching through papers坐著講電話或翻文件找資料, as long as it is the slow, necessary grind只要是那種慢、必要的苦工, not the clever idea at the end而不是最後那個聰明的點子.

It is informal, a little journalistic, and uncountable: we say “a lot of legwork,” not “many legworks.” Though actually, it does not mean sport or training your legs. Running in the park is not legwork unless it is part of the job.

It is informal, a little journalistic, and uncountable這個字是口語的、有點新聞業味道、而且是不可數的: we say "a lot of legwork,"我們說「a lot of legwork」 not "many legworks."不說「many legworks」. Though actually不過其實 it does not mean sport or training your legs它不是指運動或練腿. Running in the park在公園跑步 is not legwork不算legwork unless it is part of the job除非那是工作的一部分.