This Bush team has done no such hands-on spade work.

Well, we've got to do a lot of spade work, that's clear.

In both senses, the spade work of the expedition had mostly been done and the harvest was ready.

Too much spade work is better than too little.

Thanks to our spade work during the night, the casualties were light.

Nevertheless, months of spade work with council members had secured the necessary votes.

Its six fast-growing specialty contract businesses are the result of that spade work.

The women appreciated having the heavy spade work done for them.

And she's doing some of the spade work.

Without such careful spade work, he added, major health care legislation can never blossom.