elbow grease

noun

1. strenuous physical exertion:

   a job requiring elbow grease.

elbow grease

noun

1. facetious.
   vigorous physical labour, esp hard rubbing

elbow grease

1. Strenuous physical effort: “If you're going to get this job done, you'll need to apply a little elbow grease.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of elbow grease¹

First recorded in 1630–40

Idioms and Phrases

Strenuous physical effort, as in You'll have to use some elbow grease to get the house painted in time . This term alludes to vigorous use of one's arm in cleaning, polishing, or the like. It soon was extended to any kind of hard work, and Anthony Trollope used it still more figuratively ( Thackeray , 1874): “Forethought is the elbow-grease which a novelist ... requires.” [First half of 1600s]

Example Sentences

There was an old adage to the effect that some imaginary substance called elbow grease was necessary in kneading bread.

From Project Gutenberg

There it is; that's Injun tan, an' I hope you see that elbow grease is the main thing in tannin'.

From Project Gutenberg

"Laws, honey, dey need elbow-grease," and the old woman laughed heartily.

From Project Gutenberg

"Put a little more elbow grease to it," continued the burnisher's wife.

From Project Gutenberg

The elbow-grease of thinking was always distasteful to him, and had no doubt been so when he conceived and carried out this work.

From Project Gutenberg