glutton for punishment

1. Someone who habitually takes on burdensome or unpleasant tasks or unreasonable amounts of work. For example, Rose agreed to organize the church fair for the third year in a row—she's a glutton for punishment. This expression originated as a glutton for work in the late 1800s, punishment being substituted about a century later.

Example Sentences

Sheard is either a glutton for punishment or determined to prove his worth no matter how many times Narbonne has to start over.

From Los Angeles Times

Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment.

From Los Angeles Times

“I guess I’m just a glutton for punishment,” Hough said with a laugh during a video interview from Minneapolis.

From New York Times

If you’re an author who happens to be a glutton for punishment or, worse, an insomniac — or, disaster scenario: both — you might be familiar with a certain masochistic feedback loop.

From New York Times

The budding chain would appear to be an opportunity for Taffer to put his money where his big mouth is, though you have to wonder if the man is, perhaps, just a glutton for punishment.

From Washington Post