GR translation: grinding off

[David Morris]

“Grind” has many associations having to do with sensory “assaults” of harsh
sounds and vibrations, even sometimes the smells of burning or material
disintegration into clouds of dust.

For a bus to “grind off” down a roadway, it might mean it’s gears are
grinding, or its tires are wearing against the pavement…. But “a grind” can
also mean a disagreeable or difficult job, or even the institution of work
or a workplace.

“Off to the grind” means heading to work.

On Sun, Apr 24, 2022 at 1:47 PM Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
wrote:

> V26.11-18, P26.33-39   Busses were grinding off, hundreds of them, down the
> long concrete viaducts smeared with years’ pitiless use and no pleasure,
> into haze-gray, grease-black, red lead and pale aluminum, between scrap
> heaps that towered high as blocks of flats, down side-shoving curves into
> roads clogged with Army convoys, other tall busses and canvas lorries,
> bicycles and cars, everyone here with different destinations and
> beginnings, all flowing, hitching now and then, . . .
>
> What does "grinding off" mean here?
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