Grunt work noun [ U ] uk ​ /ˈɡrʌnt ˌwɜːk/ us ​ /ˈɡrʌnt ˌwɝːk/ informal. the basic, hard work, often physical or boring work, that is necessary for something to

Grunt work noun [ U ] uk ​ /ˈɡrʌnt ˌwɜːk/ us ​ /ˈɡrʌnt ˌwɝːk/ informal. the basic, hard work, often physical or boring work, that is necessary for something to succeed. They're just calling it like it is.