as in effort
the active use of energy in producing a result
with a little polish and a lot of elbow grease, I was able to make the old silver teapot shine again
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Recent Examples of elbow grease
The formula will work overnight—and sans elbow grease—to keep your shower cleaner.
—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
10 May 2026
Forget pluck, elbow grease and a little old-fashioned hard work.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Obviously, Valve and SteamOS are just a small piece of the Linux gaming pie, and most Windows PCs can be turned into Linux systems with a USB stick and some elbow grease.
—
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
These tasks take only a few minutes each when done weekly, but skipping them for a month or two is when buildup becomes the kind of problem that requires real elbow grease.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elbow grease
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
10 May 2026
Forget pluck, elbow grease and a little old-fashioned hard work.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Obviously, Valve and SteamOS are just a small piece of the Linux gaming pie, and most Windows PCs can be turned into Linux systems with a USB stick and some elbow grease.
—
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
These tasks take only a few minutes each when done weekly, but skipping them for a month or two is when buildup becomes the kind of problem that requires real elbow grease.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elbow grease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elbow grease
Noun
-
A bit of a surprise here, as the Warriors were reportedly shopping the 11th pick in an effort to bolster their roster with a win-now player.
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The search stems from a years-long effort by authorities to revisit information connected to Mansfield, whose family lived on Centerwood Avenue in Hernando County.
Noun
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That leaves little time for work, which can pose an additional financial burden.
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Republicans expanded work requirements for SNAP.
Noun
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The colors, pains, pleasures, smells, tastes and sounds, the what-it’s-like of being conscious, are not private inner bits and blobs that philosophers call qualia, floating in a theatre of the mind.
-
Unfortunately, days before the ceremony, Nelson began experiencing chest pains while visiting with a friend.
Cite this Entry
“Elbow grease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elbow%20grease. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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