What it means
Grafting is putting in real effort and cracking on, usually with work that's tiring, physical, or just a proper slog. In UK slang it can also mean chasing someone hard romantically, keeping the chat going and trying to pull instead of just standing there looking pretty. In both senses, it's about effort and persistence.
Usage examples
"Been grafting on that fence since breakfast, absolute slog, but it’s bang on now. Stick the kettle on and crack him a cold one, yeah?"
"He's been grafting on the building site since six, no wonder he's shattered."
"Two jobs and night classes, she's grafting harder than anyone I know."
"I've been grafting all week to get this kitchen finished, my back's in bits but it's looking tidy now."
"He was grafting her all night at the pub, buying drinks, chatting bare and getting absolutely nowhere."
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Where it comes from
It comes from graft, a word that's been used in British English for hard work since the 19th century. That work sense grew out of older uses tied to labour and digging into a job. The flirting sense is newer and got a massive boost in mainstream UK chat through Love Island, where everyone was suddenly grafting.
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