Eager beaver
Meaning: An enthusiastic, hard-working person; sometimes overly keen.
An 'eager beaver' is enthusiastically industrious—like the notoriously hard-working beaver. Can be admiring or slightly mocking of excessive enthusiasm.
Examples
- He's such an eager beaver. 他真是个干劲十足的人。Es un trabajador incansable.彼は本当に張り切り屋だ。그는 정말 열성적인 사람이야.
- The new intern is an eager beaver. 新来的实习生干劲十足。El nuevo becario es muy entusiasta.新しいインターンはやる気満々だ。새로 온 인턴은 의욕이 넘친다.
- Don't be such an eager beaver—pace yourself. 别那么拼命——注意节奏。No te pases de entusiasta, ve a tu ritmo.そんなに張り切るな——ペースを保て。그렇게 무리하지 마—페이스를 조절해.
Pronunciation
/ˈiːɡə ˈbiːvə/
Usage Guide
Context: work, enthusiasm, new employees
Tone: admiring or gently mocking
✓ Do Say
- Eager beaver干劲十足的人persona muy entusiastaやる気満々の人의욕 넘치는 사람
- An eager beaver拼命三郎un trabajador incansable張り切り屋열성적인 사람
Common Mistakes
- Can be positive or slightly teasing
Origin & History
American expression from the 1940s. Beavers are proverbially industrious dam-builders. 'Eager beaver' uses alliteration to describe enthusiastic workers.
Etymology: Beavers are proverbially industrious + alliteration
First recorded: 1940s American
Cultural Context
Era: 1940s onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Pop culture: American expressions
Regional notes: American origin, global usage.
Variations
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