might and main, with

Idioms and Phrases

Strenuously, vigorously, as in She pulled on the rope with all her might and main . This expression is redundant, since the noun main also means “strength” or “power.” It survives only in this phrase, which may also be dying out. [Late 1200s]

Example Sentences

“I have always urged fighting wars and other contentions with might and main till overwhelming victory, and then offering the hand of friendship to the vanquished,” he wrote in later years.

From Time

Thus they rushed; each man with might and main clinging to his seat, to prevent being tossed to the foam; and the tall form of Tashtego at the steering oar crouching almost double, in order to bring down his centre of gravity.

From BBC

The Manxman had clung on to the coat tails of the race with might and main on the steep, 2km ascent to Montescaglioso, 15km out, and crossed the summit close enough to the lead peloton – cut to below 100 – to hope to regain contact with the help of the three team-mates who had remained at his side.

From The Guardian

Rather a remarkable phase of Liszt now was that he tried with might and main to live down and forget his so-called "Glanzperiode," the one of his virtuosity.

From Project Gutenberg

Society, the arch-enemy of the rights of individuality, is represented like an evil spirit, whom it behoves every true man to resist with might and main, and whose demands, as they cannot be altogether ignored, must be reduced at all hazards to the lowest level.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• effectively
• energetically
• forcefully
• intensely
• strongly
• vigorously