elbow grease

noun

Definition of elbow grease

: hard work There is just no substitution for the elbow grease involved in promotion. You just have to get out there and work hard to get the word to the stores that the book is available.— Andy Shafran especially : vigorously applied physical labor or effort Best of all, the metal handle is bendable, making it easy to defat liquids of varying depths. Kudos to a kitchen tool that spares elbow grease. — Grace Young

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Examples of elbow grease in a Sentence

It's going to take some elbow grease to get this counter clean. with a little polish and a lot of elbow grease, I was able to make the old silver teapot shine again

Recent Examples on the Web Two, you must be committed to your portfolio companies, rolling up your sleeves when needed and putting in the elbow grease. — Sameet Mehta, Forbes, 24 June 2022 Consequently, some people prefer to substitute mechanization for elbow grease. — Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 11 May 2022 The work on the facade relied on newfangled lasers and old-fashioned elbow grease. — J.s. Marcus, WSJ, 11 May 2022 But pavers can get soiled with muddy shoes, windblown dirt, food spills, and standing water—and these require a bit more elbow grease. — Kristina Mcguirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 June 2022 Keeping your house squeaky clean is, well, a chore—one that typically requires unglamorous trappings like elbow grease, chemicals, and motivation. — Anna Fixsen, ELLE Decor, 3 June 2022 Just a few supplies and bit of elbow grease can keep your patio or garden path looking new. — Kristina Mcguirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 June 2022 Most hose reels require some manual elbow grease, and there are also more expensive retractable hose reels. — Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 17 May 2022 The material is eminently learnable with a little bit of elbow grease. — Sandra Scheinbaum, Forbes, 1 June 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'elbow grease.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Buying Guide

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