163 Elbow grease

(PW) strength for cleaning

I needed to use a lot of elbow grease to get the dirt off the floor.

(free) n. Informal

Strenuous physical labor and effort.

Facetious vigorous physical labour, esp hard rubbing

(dictionary) noun

strenuous physical exertion: a job requiring elbow grease.

(quotation) A great deal of effort and hard work

(MW) Main Entry: elbow grease

Function: noun

Date: 1672

vigorously applied physical labor : hard work