elbow grease
noun
: 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
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
Grace Young 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
Prepare to apply some elbow grease for the best results.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
Follow the instructions on the bottle, which typically include applying the product and adding a little elbow grease, then wiping it clean.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
While spring cleaning and deep cleaning are rites of passage in Southern homes, keeping things tidy in between requires a little elbow grease.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2026
There’s also an impressive discount on the top-selling Fullstar vegetable chopper that can dice produce any which way without any elbow grease on your end, as well as this six-piece champagne flute set that’s primed for New Year’s Eve festivities.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elbow grease
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Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
Follow the instructions on the bottle, which typically include applying the product and adding a little elbow grease, then wiping it clean.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
While spring cleaning and deep cleaning are rites of passage in Southern homes, keeping things tidy in between requires a little elbow grease.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2026
There’s also an impressive discount on the top-selling Fullstar vegetable chopper that can dice produce any which way without any elbow grease on your end, as well as this six-piece champagne flute set that’s primed for New Year’s Eve festivities.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elbow grease
Cite this Entry
“Elbow grease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elbow%20grease. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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