蚂蚁啃骨头多用于工业方面指在缺乏大型设备的情况下利用小型机床对大部件加工如同小蚂蚁啃大骨头。有时也比喻一点一点地苦干以完成一项很大的任务。例别看我们的设备差，蚂蚁啃骨头也能完成任务。英plod away at a big job bit by bit as ants gnawing at a bone; ants gnawi
啃骨头用牙剥食骨头上的肉。例那只狗在啃骨头。英gnaw a bone; pick a bone;比喻难做的而又没有什么油水的工作常和“吃肉”对举。例吃肉和啃骨头的事都得干。英a job that was difficult and not very profitable;