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Elbow Grease

What Does "Elbow Grease" Mean?

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"Elbow grease" is an English idiom. It means "hard physical work, especially vigorous polishing or cleaning."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "elbow grease" used in a sentence:
  • This old table will look new with a little elbow grease.
  • Cleaning the garage will require some elbow grease.
  • She applied some elbow grease and got the rusty machine working again.
meaning for elbow grease

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Elbow Grease" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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