Wade through

Meaning

Work through something tedious or difficult.

Usage

Used for dense reading or chores.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Originally literal wading through water, later applied to tasks.

19th century travelogues used the phrase before it turned figurative.