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 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
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
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
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
“I will have to throw some money and elbow grease at it first, though.”
From "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
