How to Use elbow grease in a Sentence

elbow grease

noun
  • It's going to take some elbow grease to get this counter clean.
  • Don’t be shy to add a little elbow grease.
    — Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Some songs take a lot of elbow grease, but this was done in two or three days.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2023
  • This little kitchen trick could save you tons of elbow grease.
    — Sasha Henriques, Woman's Day, 18 Aug. 2015
  • Or, use some elbow grease and dig weeds up to remove the roots.
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 15 Apr. 2021
  • So chill out during and avoid the urge to bring on the elbow grease.
    — Marygrace Taylor, SELF, 12 Oct. 2022
  • But there is a bit of elbow grease that needs to be added to the equation.
    — Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 11 Aug. 2023
  • And some hair did get stuck in the brush roller, which took elbow grease to remove.
    — Christie Calucchia, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Nov. 2022
  • Use a microfiber cleaning cloth and some elbow grease to start.
    — Simon Hill, Wired, 8 Feb. 2022
  • Save your salt for your sidewalks, and rely on elbow grease to get your car clean.
    — Emily Price, Popular Science, 17 Dec. 2020
  • In a pinch, good old-fashioned soap, water and elbow grease will do the trick.
    — cleveland, 6 June 2020
  • Put coffee grounds in, pour hot water, and use some elbow grease to squeeze out a cup.
    — Field & Stream, 23 Nov. 2020
  • Use a little elbow grease to get rid of any oil residue or fingerprints.
    — Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, 21 Jan. 2020
  • Just add hot water and a little elbow grease to make your espresso beans sing.
    — Kara Nelson | Contributing Writer, NOLA.com, 27 Oct. 2020
  • Save the elbow grease and use a dryer sheet on the stubborn food residue instead.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2023
  • Save the elbow grease and use a dryer sheet on the stubborn food residue instead.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Save the elbow grease and use a dryer sheet on the stubborn food residue instead.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Save the elbow grease and use a dryer sheet on the stubborn food residue instead.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Save the elbow grease and use a dryer sheet on the stubborn food residue instead.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Pick up a box and use once per month for clean water bottles without the elbow grease.
    — Bon Appétit, 12 Jan. 2022
  • The main idea is to clean well without scrubbing too hard or using too much elbow grease.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026
  • But the plumbing problem isn't just a question of a plunger and some elbow grease.
    — Steve Walsh, NPR, 4 June 2026
  • Just grab the right supplies (and a little elbow grease) to get started.
    — Lauren Smith McDonough, Good Housekeeping, 28 Feb. 2023
  • Currently, the job requires a clean cloth and some elbow grease.
    — Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 23 Feb. 2023
  • Keeping your phone clean isn’t hard with the right supplies and a little bit of elbow grease.
    — Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2022
  • Of course, lots of elbow grease will now be in order to get the house and gardens back in order.
    — Cori Brown, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 27 Mar. 2021
  • Forget pluck, elbow grease and a little old-fashioned hard work.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
  • Prepare to apply some elbow grease for the best results.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Thanks to all their elbow grease and strategic shopping, the couple was able to keep costs way down.
    — Michelle Higgins, New York Times, 15 May 2018
  • Putting some elbow grease into the wrapping will make your wreath stay intact well through the new year.
    — Elise Taylor, Vogue, 13 Dec. 2017

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elbow grease.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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