This idiom is particularly topical for me, so I thought I might mention it. I assume 'fray' is somewhat equivalent with rat-race as I found 'scuffle' under fray. Seems to be one of those endangered species aleast in my generation. Is it comparable with "Back to the grind"? And I seem also to remember something like "Nose to the stone", but maybe that ain't from English. Apropos foreign - this is the first time I've written at Wordsmith with an English keyboard, and boy is it refreshing.
Anyway, I'd be happy to be enlightened on this idiomatic rarity and discover others to which it bears some similarity.