ELBOW GREASE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does elbow grease mean? 

• ELBOW GREASE (noun)
  The noun ELBOW GREASE has 1 sense:

1. use of physical or mental energy; hard work

  Familiarity information: ELBOW GREASE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ELBOW GREASE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Use of physical or mental energy; hard work

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

effort; elbow grease; exertion; sweat; travail

Context example:

they managed only with great exertion

Hypernyms ("elbow grease" is a kind of...):

labor; labour; toil (productive work (especially physical work done for wages))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "elbow grease"):

struggle (strenuous effort)

difficulty; trouble (an effort that is inconvenient)

least effort; least resistance (the least effortful way to do something)

strain; straining (an intense or violent exertion)

exercise; exercising; physical exercise; physical exertion; workout (the activity of exerting your muscles in various ways to keep fit)

pull (a sustained effort)

application; diligence (a diligent effort)

overkill (any effort that seems to go farther than would be necessary to achieve its goal)

supererogation (an effort above and beyond the call of duty)

overexertion (excessive exertion; so much exertion that discomfort or injury results)

detrition; friction; rubbing (effort expended in moving one object over another with pressure)