elbow grease
 使勁地擦磨;耗費體力的工作


 El·bow n.
 1. The joint or bend of the arm; the outer curve in the middle of the arm when bent.
    Her arms to the elbows naked.   --R. of Gloucester.
 2. Any turn or bend like that of the elbow, in a wall, building, and the like; a sudden turn in a line of coast or course of a river; also, an angular or jointed part of any structure, as the raised arm of a chair or sofa, or a short pipe fitting, turning at an angle or bent.
 3. Arch. A sharp angle in any surface of wainscoting or other woodwork; the upright sides which flank any paneled work, as the sides of windows, where the jamb makes an elbow with the window back.
 Note: ☞ Elbow is used adjectively or as part of a compound, to denote something shaped like, or acting like, an elbow; as, elbow joint; elbow tongs or elbow-tongs; elbowroom, elbow-room, or elbow room.
 At the elbow, very near; at hand.
 Elbow grease, energetic application of force in manual labor. [Low]
 Elbow in the hawse Naut., the twisting together of two cables by which a vessel rides at anchor, caused by swinging completely round once. --Totten.
 Elbow scissors Surg., scissors bent in the blade or shank for convenience in cutting. --Knight.
 Out at elbow, with coat worn through at the elbows; shabby; in needy circumstances.


 elbow grease
      n : use of physical or mental energy; hard work; "he got an A
          for effort"; "they managed only with great exertion"
          [syn: effort, exertion, travail, sweat]