Working hard or hardly working meaning in English

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Definition

to work hard: to work a lot, to work using much effort idiom
to hardly work: to work very little idiom
The question (Are you) working hard or hardly working? is a funny play on words!

Examples

  • "How are things over there in the States? Working hard or hardly working?"
Exercise 1
Mick asks Bruno if he is "working hard, or hardly working".

Mick wants to know if Bruno is or if Bruno .
Mick asks Bruno if he is "working hard, or hardly working".

Mick wants to know if Bruno is working intensely 1 or if Bruno is working just a little 2.
1 working intensely: This is correct. The question "(are you) working hard?" asks about the intensity or difficulty of someone's work. The entire question which Mick asks Bruno (Working hard or hardly working?) is a pun, or a play on the words "hard" and "hardly".
1 having difficulties working: This is incorrect. Although the word "hard" sometimes expresses that someone is having difficulties or troubles (as in the question 'are you having a hard time?), this is not the case here.
1 enjoying his work: This is incorrect. The question "(are you) working hard" is not related to the pleasure someone takes in working.
2 is working just a little: This is correct. Mick asks if Bruno is "hardly" working. "Hardly" is synonymous with "barely". It means "just a little". Example: I hardly know him = I know him only a little (I've only met him once or twice).
2 is not working at all: This is incorrect. "Hardly" does not mean "not at all", but rather "just a little".
2 is working too much: This is incorrect. "Hardly" doesn't indicate an "excess" of something.
2 is working like he usually does: This is incorrect. "Hardly" doesn't indicate "habit" or being accustomed to something.

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