elbow grease

USAGE SUMMARY

"elbow grease" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to an effort that is not necessarily physical, but requires hard work and determination. For example, "He put in a lot of elbow grease to get the project completed on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Elbow grease.

The Guardian - Music

The rest is elbow grease.

The New York Times - Arts

Better to talk about elbow grease.

The New York Times - Food

"Elbow grease" is not a metaphor.

The Guardian - Books

Elbow grease and hard cash are thrown at problems.

The Guardian - Business

Building the new Jerusalem with elbow grease and a quid.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

This should not be an elbow grease-intensive performance.

The New York Times

This largely electronic operation still requires lots of elbow grease--just as Amazon does.

Forbes

Organizational elbow-grease, Modest financing.

Huffington Post

With a little elbow-grease it should come loose.

WikiHow

The second take-away is elbow grease.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "elbow grease", consider the audience and context. While generally acceptable, in formal or business writing, a more direct synonym like "hard work" or "effort" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "elbow grease" in contexts that demand precision or technical language. Opt for clearer, more literal terms to prevent misinterpretation and maintain professionalism.

Linguistic Context

"Elbow grease" functions as a noun phrase, typically referring to the physical effort applied to a task, often involving cleaning or polishing. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

6%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "elbow grease" is a widely recognized and accepted phrase signifying strenuous physical effort, especially in tasks like cleaning and polishing. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, its informal to neutral register suggests that it's best suited for general or news contexts rather than formal or scientific writing. When a more professional tone is required, alternatives like "hard work" or "diligent effort" may be more appropriate. This phrase is very common across various media, including The New York Times and The Guardian, emphasizing its established presence in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard work

Focuses on the effort required, omitting the implication of physical exertion.

physical labor

Highlights the physical aspect of the effort.

strenuous effort

Emphasizes the intensity and rigor of the work.

diligent effort

Focuses on the consistent and attentive nature of the work.

arduous work

Highlights the difficulty and demanding nature of the task.

manual labor

Specifically refers to work done by hand or with physical effort.

intensive labor

Emphasizes the concentrated and focused nature of the effort.

assiduous effort

Highlights the persistent and careful nature of the work.

toil and sweat

A more poetic and descriptive way to express hard physical work.

exertion

Refers to the physical or mental effort put forth.

FAQs

How can I use "elbow grease" in a sentence?

"Elbow grease" typically refers to physical effort or hard work, especially when cleaning or polishing something. For example, "It took a lot of "elbow grease" to get the old car shiny again."

What's a good alternative to "elbow grease"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "hard work", "physical effort", or "manual labor" as alternatives to "elbow grease".

Is "elbow grease" appropriate for formal writing?

While "elbow grease" is widely understood, it's generally considered informal. For formal writing, using more direct and professional terms like "dedication" or "commitment" might be more suitable.

What does "elbow grease" mean?

"Elbow grease" is an idiom that means strenuous physical effort and hard work, especially that which involves polishing or cleaning something.