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Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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Elbow grease
TalesofTrivia
2 Posts
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2013/09/17 - 7:06pm
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Elbow grease is sweat? Indulge me in my unauthoritative protest. I always thought the point of "put some elbow grease into it" was that it referred to trying to remove a bolt that's stuck. If you haven't got any real grease to lubricate it with, all you can do is lean into it with more torque--elbow grease.

Robert
553 Posts
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2013/09/17 - 9:28pm
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I understand it similarly: it's when you want to emphasize how a job requires human labors as opposed to just the oiled (greased) machinery doing all the works. The grease is symbolic, not anything on your elbow.

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