Trying hard and not giving up is important in everything we do. Whether it’s school, sports, or helping at home, effort shows that we care and want to do our best. People often use idioms to talk about working hard. These idioms are short phrases that mean more than the words say. They help us talk about effort in a fun and colorful way.
In this article, we’ll look at idioms about effort. You’ll learn what each one means and how to use it. These idioms can help you understand how others talk about trying hard. They can also help you share your own thoughts better. Let’s explore these useful and interesting phrases together.
Idioms About Effort
1. Bend over backwards
Meaning: Try very hard to help or please someone
Example Sentence:
• I bent over backwards to help her with her homework.
• He bent over backwards to make the event fun.
Other ways to say: Go the extra mile, do your best
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from gymnastics where bending backwards takes effort.
Usage: Used when someone puts in a lot of effort to help.
2. Give it your all
Meaning: Try your best
Example Sentence:
• She gave it her all in the spelling bee.
• He gave it his all during the soccer match.
Other ways to say: Try hard, do your best
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in sports, meaning to use full strength.
Usage: When someone puts in full energy.
3. Pull out all the stops
Meaning: Use every effort to succeed
Example Sentence:
• We pulled out all the stops to win the contest.
• The teacher pulled out all the stops for the school play.
Other ways to say: Try everything, go all out
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from organ music, where pulling all stops makes it louder.
Usage: When someone uses every possible effort.
4. Go the extra mile
Meaning: Do more than what is expected
Example Sentence:
• She always goes the extra mile to help her classmates.
• The coach went the extra mile to train the team.
Other ways to say: Do more, put in extra effort
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the Bible, where someone is told to carry a load an extra mile.
Usage: Used when people work harder than needed.
5. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Stay up late working hard
Example Sentence:
• I burned the midnight oil to finish my science project.
• He burned the midnight oil studying for the big test.
Other ways to say: Stay up late, work late
Fun Fact/Origin: In old times, people used oil lamps to stay up late.
Usage: Used when someone works late into the night.
6. Put your nose to the grindstone
Meaning: Work very hard for a long time
Example Sentence:
• She put her nose to the grindstone and finished her report.
• He kept his nose to the grindstone all week.
Other ways to say: Keep working, focus hard
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sharpening tools on a grindstone, needing full attention.
Usage: Used when someone works very steadily and hard.
7. Break your back
Meaning: Work very hard on something
Example Sentence:
• I broke my back cleaning the garage.
• She broke her back practicing the piano.
Other ways to say: Strain yourself, work really hard
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to the pain or stress of hard labor.
Usage: Used when someone works so hard it feels painful.
8. Leave no stone unturned
Meaning: Try everything to solve a problem
Example Sentence:
• We left no stone unturned looking for my lost dog.
• She left no stone unturned to get into her dream school.
Other ways to say: Check everything, try all options
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old stories of looking under every stone for treasure.
Usage: Used when someone tries every possible way.
9. Put in the hard yards
Meaning: Do the difficult work needed
Example Sentence:
• He put in the hard yards during football practice.
• We put in the hard yards to clean the park.
Other ways to say: Work hard, put in effort
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in sports, especially rugby and football.
Usage: Used when someone does the tiring part of a task.
10. Work your fingers to the bone
Meaning: Work extremely hard
Example Sentence:
• My mom works her fingers to the bone every day.
• He worked his fingers to the bone fixing the car.
Other ways to say: Work nonstop, work really hard
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests working so hard that it harms your body.
Usage: Used when someone works too much or too hard.
11. Sweat blood
Meaning: Put in a lot of effort, sometimes painfully
Example Sentence:
• She sweated blood to write her book.
• We sweated blood to win the match.
Other ways to say: Try really hard, struggle
Fun Fact/Origin: Extreme form of effort, not real blood.
Usage: Used when something takes great effort.
12. Move heaven and earth
Meaning: Try very hard to do something
Example Sentence:
• He moved heaven and earth to find his lost cat.
• They moved heaven and earth to win the trophy.
Other ways to say: Try everything, do all you can
Fun Fact/Origin: From old sayings meaning to do the impossible.
Usage: Used when someone tries really hard to succeed.
13. Put your heart into it
Meaning: Try with full passion and care
Example Sentence:
• She put her heart into making the birthday card.
• He put his heart into learning the guitar.
Other ways to say: Give it your all, be passionate
Fun Fact/Origin: Relates to emotions and strong effort coming from the heart.
Usage: Used when someone does something with strong feeling and effort.
14. Bust your chops
Meaning: Work very hard, often physically
Example Sentence:
• He busted his chops fixing the roof.
• She busted her chops to finish her science fair project.
Other ways to say: Work hard, push yourself
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from boxing, where “chops” mean the jaw area.
Usage: Used when someone works hard, even if it’s tough.
15. Roll up your sleeves
Meaning: Get ready to work hard
Example Sentence:
• Let’s roll up our sleeves and start cleaning.
• She rolled up her sleeves and helped build the treehouse.
Other ways to say: Get ready to work, start working
Fun Fact/Origin: From people rolling up shirt sleeves before hard work.
Usage: Used when someone prepares to start working.
16. Dig in your heels
Meaning: Refuse to give up or change
Example Sentence:
• He dug in his heels and finished the puzzle.
• She dug in her heels when the game got hard.
Other ways to say: Stay firm, keep going
Fun Fact/Origin: From horses stopping and not moving, showing determination.
Usage: Used when someone won’t quit or give up.
17. Get your hands dirty
Meaning: Do hard or messy work
Example Sentence:
• I got my hands dirty helping in the garden.
• She got her hands dirty painting the shed.
Other ways to say: Do the tough work, pitch in
Fun Fact/Origin: Literal and figurative for doing real effort
Usage: Used when someone takes part in real or messy work.
18. Keep your nose to the grindstone
Meaning: Work hard without stopping
Example Sentence:
• She kept her nose to the grindstone all semester.
• He kept his nose to the grindstone at the job site.
Other ways to say: Focus hard, stay busy
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to sharpening tools carefully
Usage: Used when someone works with focus for a long time.
19. Go all out
Meaning: Try as hard as possible
Example Sentence:
• The team went all out in the final game.
• She went all out decorating the party room.
Other ways to say: Give everything, do your best
Fun Fact/Origin: Used often in sports and events
Usage: Used when someone uses full energy and effort.
20. Hang in there
Meaning: Don’t give up
Example Sentence:
• Hang in there! The test will be over soon.
• He told her to hang in there during practice.
Other ways to say: Keep going, stay strong
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in posters and sayings for encouragement
Usage: Used to support someone during a hard time.
21. Fight tooth and nail
Meaning: Try very hard, even in tough situations
Example Sentence:
• She fought tooth and nail to get into the team.
• He fought tooth and nail to save the project.
Other ways to say: Struggle hard, battle for it
Fun Fact/Origin: Old saying showing how people fight using everything
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t give up even in a hard fight.
22. Put your back into it
Meaning: Use full strength to do something
Example Sentence:
• He put his back into lifting the heavy box.
• She put her back into washing the car.
Other ways to say: Try harder, use force
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to physical effort using body strength
Usage: Used when someone puts full power into work.
23. Leave it all on the field
Meaning: Try your best with nothing left
Example Sentence:
• The team left it all on the field during the game.
• He left it all on the field at the spelling bee.
Other ways to say: Do everything you can, try your hardest
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in sports, meaning no energy is saved
Usage: Used when someone gives everything they’ve got.
24. Try your hand at
Meaning: Try doing something new
Example Sentence:
• I tried my hand at painting this weekend.
• She tried her hand at baking cupcakes.
Other ways to say: Give it a try, experiment
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from using your hands to learn a skill
Usage: Used when trying something you haven’t done before.
25. Stay the course
Meaning: Keep going until the end
Example Sentence:
• He stayed the course and finished his book.
• She stayed the course and graduated with honors.
Other ways to say: Keep going, don’t quit
Fun Fact/Origin: From sailing, where ships stay on direction
Usage: Used when someone continues despite struggles.
26. Give it a shot
Meaning: Try doing something
Example Sentence:
• I gave it a shot even though I was nervous.
• She gave it a shot and really liked it.
Other ways to say: Try it, take a chance
Fun Fact/Origin: “Shot” means a try, like in sports or contests
Usage: Used when someone attempts something new.
27. Put your best foot forward
Meaning: Make the best effort possible
Example Sentence:
• She put her best foot forward in the school play.
• He put his best foot forward in the interview.
Other ways to say: Do your best, show your best side
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from walking or stepping confidently
Usage: Used when someone tries to impress or succeed.
28. Push the envelope
Meaning: Try beyond normal limits
Example Sentence:
• The artist pushed the envelope with her new painting.
• He pushed the envelope by solving a hard math problem.
Other ways to say: Go beyond, test the limits
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from flight tests where “envelope” meant limits
Usage: Used when trying something bold or difficult.
Quiz: Idioms About Effort
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “bend over backwards” mean?
A) Do something dangerous
B) Try very hard to help someone
C) Relax and take a nap
2. If you “burn the midnight oil,” what are you doing?
A) Sleeping early
B) Working late at night
C) Cleaning up oil
3. What does it mean to “leave no stone unturned”?
A) Pick up every rock
B) Try everything to find or fix something
C) Give up easily
4. When someone says “go the extra mile,” what are they talking about?
A) Driving longer
B) Walking for fun
C) Doing more than expected
5. What does “give it your all” mean?
A) Share everything you own
B) Do your very best
C) Ask for help
6. If you “put your nose to the grindstone,” what are you doing?
A) Smelling a rock
B) Daydreaming
C) Working very hard
7. What does it mean to “roll up your sleeves”?
A) Fold your clothes
B) Get ready to work
C) Take a break
8. If someone “puts their heart into it,” what does that mean?
A) They are feeling tired
B) They are very lazy
C) They are doing something with care and passion
9. What does “push the envelope” mean?
A) Mail a letter
B) Try something bold or beyond limits
C) Fold paper carefully
10. If someone is told to “hang in there,” what are they being asked to do?
A) Give up
B) Keep trying and not quit
C) Swing on a rope
11. What does “get your hands dirty” mean?
A) Do hard or messy work
B) Stay clean
C) Play in the mud
12. What does it mean to “fight tooth and nail”?
A) Get into a real fight
B) Try very hard and not give up
C) Brush your teeth and cut your nails
Answer Key
- B) Try very hard to help someone
- B) Working late at night
- B) Try everything to find or fix something
- C) Doing more than expected
- B) Do your very best
- C) Working very hard
- B) Get ready to work
- C) They are doing something with care and passion
- B) Try something bold or beyond limits
- B) Keep trying and not quit
- A) Do hard or messy work
- B) Try very hard and not give up
Wrapping Up
Idioms about effort help us talk about working hard in fun ways. They show how people try their best, keep going, and give all they’ve got. These phrases are easy to use once you know what they mean. You might hear them at school, home, or even on TV.
When you use these idioms, you can speak with more color and confidence. Try using one the next time you work on something tough. It shows you understand not just the task—but the effort too.
