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.
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
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
Even though, yes, you may need a bit more elbow grease that you typically associate with weeknight cooking, I've never grasped why risotto has become such a culinary bogeyman for so many people.
From Salon • Jul. 2, 2023
“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
Just needed some elbow grease and then it would shine and sparkle like a crown.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
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