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

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

Synonyms

• effort
• work
• pains

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

Weber Griddle Scraper $22 $19 (14% off) Amazon $19 Weber Other people have their own methods, but my preference for cleaning griddles tends to use more steam than elbow grease. —Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 6 Aug. 2025

Unlike bulky box graters that can take up space and food processors that require power, the best paddle graters store flat in a utensil drawer and only require a little elbow grease for power. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025

But, for those with a vision and a willingness to put in a little bit of elbow grease, a flea market can be a treasure trove of solid brass, bronze, and glass hardware. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 30 July 2025

Along with all the elbow grease the pair have to put into each project, viewers will see the tearjerking moments that come with every big reveal. —Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 24 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for elbow grease

• altarpiece
• centerpiece
• frontispiece
• mantelpiece
• masterpiece
• pilates
• summarise
• syntheses
• apiece
• aris
• assise
• caprice

Kids Definition

elbow grease

noun

: forceful effort in doing physical labor