greasy grind

“I’m afraid that if we don’t do something for our poor friend, he will degenerate until finally he becomes nothing but a ‘greasy grind.’

He went down to recitation in a dazed condition, and made a flunk, much to the surprise of those who knew he had turned into a "greasy grind" of late.

An earnest student was immediately dubbed, vividly enough, if inelegantly, a "greasy grind"—and was left more or less to her own devices; but if Nancy was not as popular as Alma, she was regarded with a good deal of respect and genuine admiration by the other girls, and in Charlotte Spencer she had found a really devoted friend.

“As soon as I get back I’m going to buckle down, and get to be a regular greasy grind, as 29 they call ’em.

All right; anything to get out of the greasy grind of studying.