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.
The whole system cost £15,000 and "a lot of elbow grease and hard work" to install but it is not unique.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
The most important thing is to keep your money working for you as hard as it possibly can — and for that, you need to apply some elbow grease to keep it moving.
From MarketWatch ● May 11, 2026
It says that the government’s proper role is to clear a path so those who put in the elbow grease can earn success.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 20, 2025
Once the sauce has considerably thickened up a bit and it takes some more elbow grease to run your whisk through it, add salt and another squeeze of lemon juice and taste.
From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2025
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
