What is the meanind and example of idiom th donkey work?

The idiom "the donkey work" refers to the hard, boring, and often tedious part of a task or project. It's the groundwork, the unglamorous but essential work that needs to be done before anything else can happen.

Example:

"I'm happy to handle the creative aspects of the presentation, but someone needs to do the donkey work of collecting all the data and organizing it into charts."

Here's how it breaks down:

* Donkey: Donkeys are known for their strength and their ability to carry heavy loads, but they are not known for their intelligence or excitement.

* Work: This refers to the actual tasks involved in completing the project.

In essence, the idiom highlights the contrast between the exciting, visible aspects of a project and the often less exciting, but equally important, work that needs to be done behind the scenes.