1. A horse used for work or labor, as opposed to one bred for racing or riding for pleasure
The farmer relied on his workhorse to plow the fields.
O fazendeiro dependia do seu cavalo de trabalho para arar os campos.
2. A person or thing that is reliable, hardworking, and capable of handling difficult tasks; someone or something that does a lot of work without complaint
She is the workhorse of the office, always taking on extra projects.
Ela é o cavalo de trabalho do escritório, sempre assumindo projetos extras.
3. A machine or device that performs reliably under heavy use
This truck is a real workhorse that has served the company for ten years.
Este caminhão é um verdadeiro cavalo de trabalho que serviu a empresa por dez anos.