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

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Baking Soda And Dish Soap When trying to remove or lighten stains that are already set on your Pyrex dish, a combination of a gentle abrasive cleanser and a little elbow grease with a plastic or nylon scrubby (never steel wool) can work wonders. Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024 Though finding the right color will require some elbow grease—and plenty of trial and error—the results can bring out the very best of your home’s architecture. Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024 Cleaning this cooker takes some elbow grease due to a rubber seal that needed extra attention. Alida Nugent, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024 After using the device for a few months, the 10-year-old carpet in my bedroom looks so much brighter, and the machine eliminates the amount of elbow grease and time necessary to deep clean. Toni Sutton, People.com, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for elbow grease 

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of elbow grease was in 1672

Dictionary Entries Near elbow grease

Cite this Entry

“Elbow grease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elbow%20grease. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

elbow grease

noun
: forceful effort in doing physical labor
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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