A workhorse is a horse which is used to do a job, for example to pull a plough.
2. countable noun
If you describe a person or a machine as a workhorse, you mean that they can be relied upon to do a large amount of work, especially work that is dull or routine.
...the Wellington bomber, the great workhorse of the war. [+ of]
She was never late, a real workhorse, who never complained.
workhorse in British English
(ˈwɜːkˌhɔːs)
noun
1.
a horse used for nonrecreational activities
2. informal
a person who takes on the greatest amount of work in a project or job
workhorse in American English
(ˈwɜrkˌhɔrs)
noun
1.
a horse used for working, as for pulling a plow
2.
a steady, responsible worker who assumes a heavy workload
3.
a machine, vehicle, etc. that proves to be durable and dependable
Examples of 'workhorse' in a sentence
workhorse
I put one into a small basement flat and it has been a real little workhorse.
The Sun (2016)
So you can't really beat the old workhorse who puts it there or thereabouts.
The Sun (2007)
THE workhorse world of white van man is suddenly getting a little racier and more luxurious.
The Sun (2008)
Verdict More reliable than it used to be, a solid web workhorse.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
So before you buy one, ask yourself this: do you need a workhorse?