brute for punishment

plural brutes for punishment

1. datedpossiblyset phraseOne who endures, or who can endure, a great deal of pain, hardship, or other adversity.

   A brute for punishment, a beauty for looks! Engineered to outserve and outperform all ordinary trucks.

   1938, Fargo Commercial Trucks vintage advertisement (image at Pinterest), retrieved 02 Mar 2018

   3 more examples

   "That's not auto camping at all," Henry scoffed. "I mean the real thing—every night in a different place and lots of miles covered every day." "Gosh!" exclaimed Gus. You are a brute for punishment!"

   1926 June, Martin Bunn, "Before You Go Auto Camping," Popular Science Monthly, p. 66 (Google preview) (retrieved 2 March 2018)

   "I know the English soldier is a brute for punishment, but I can't figure out why they don't take the bull by the horns and do something to make life more pleasant."

   1964, Alexander McKee, Caen: Anvil of Victory, →ISBN, retrieved 02 Mar 2018

   If re-elected, Brainard will start his 31st year with the school board. “I guess I’m a brute for punishment,” he said laughing.

   2012 April 27, Michael Tucker and Hannah Stiff, "Gallatin Valley School Board Election," Belgrade News (Bozeman, Montana) (retrieved 2 March 2018)

   Synonyms: glutton for punishment