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elbow grease



Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A good fit for: Cooks who want a chemical-free pan that lasts—and don’t mind putting in a little elbow grease.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

In ‘99% Perspiration,’ data and stories illustrate the roots and consequences of a very American dilemma: the belief that old-fashioned elbow grease will get you anywhere you want to go.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 4, 2025

“It seems like magic, but of course there’s all this elbow grease that’s gone into the recognition.”

From Washington Post • Jan. 8, 2023

And a little elbow grease goes a long way, McDonald says.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 9, 2022

International economists often describe South Korea as the single most impressive example of what free markets, democratic government, and elbow grease can do to transform a small agrarian backwater into a global powerhouse.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden