Origin of elbow grease

A 1699 dictionary of slang called it a derisive word for sweat An 1889 book of proverbs had a more flattering take on the expression noting that elbow grease makes wealth increase The author elaborates. See more words from the same year.

The question was the meaning and origin of elbow grease.

Origin of elbow grease. Elbow grease - one of the idioms that make English such a difficult language to master. Marvell was suggesting that although religious meetings could be disrupted or broken up by the speakers opponents printed material could be circulated unhindered. Of course Marvell was alluding to writing when he used the figurative expression elbow-grease.

It was also used later in the same century as it is used now. Elbow Grease Origin Literary Origin. Two or three brawny Fellows in a Corner with meer Ink and Elbow-grease do more Harm than an Hundred systematical Divines with their sweaty Preaching.

Rehearsal Transposd Andrew Marvell 1672. Phrase elbow grease hard rubbing is attested from 1670s from jocular sense of the best substance for polishing furniture Theres a similarly colourful definition in Francis Groses 1785 A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. ELBOW GREASE labour elbow grease will make an oak table shine.

A fools errand. Uncovering the origins of elbow grease Posted by Rachelle Drouin January 11 2021 January 11 2021 Posted in etymology Tags. English language history of English idiomatic expressions idioms phrases slang word origins.

Someone close to me once worked in the hardware department at Sears. I recall his telling me about a family combing the aisles and growing. The idiomatic expression elbow grease means applied hard manual labor probably since when doing manual labor there is a lot of flexion at the elbow.

It dates as early as the 17th century in English usage and originates in street language or lower class society. The term has similar expressions in other languages in French we have huile de bras or lhuile de coude which translate as elbow-grease. ELBOW GREASE – Elbow grease has been a term of hard manual labor since before 1639 A New Dictionary of the Terms Ancient and Modern of the Canting Crew ca.

1698 calling it A derisory term for Sweat The old joke that elbow grease is the best brand of furniture poish was probably common centuries ago too in some form. The phrase was known in France from early times. The question was the meaning and origin of elbow grease.

Originally it meant vigorous rubbing that works up a sweat. It shows up in old proverbs speaking of polishing furniture. As important as the polishing agent might be throwing muscle pressure into the job was just as important.

It has been said that this expression dating from the seventeenth century originally referred to a joke played on a new apprentice who was sent out to a shop to purchase elbow grease Originally meaning simply to use ones arm vigorously in scrubbing or polishing it soon was transferred to other kinds of effort as well. Forethought is the elbow-grease which a novelistor poet or. Phrase elbow grease hard rubbing is attested from 1670s from jocular sense of the best substance for polishing furniture Elbow-room room to extend ones elbows hence ample room for activity is attested from 1530s.

Elbow v thrust with the elbow c. 1600 from elbow n. This term alludes to vigorous use of ones arm in cleaning polishing or the like.

It soon was extended to any kind of hard work and Anthony Trollope used it still more figuratively Thackeray 1874. Forethought is the elbow-grease. Time Traveler for elbow grease.

The first known use of elbow grease was in 1672. See more words from the same year. The idiom came from the informal term and idiom elbow grease which means the process of working hard especially when one is doing manual labor.

It is often used humorously. With some elbow grease the boys were able to clean the dirty compound within minutes. The term elbow grease was first used in 1672.

A 1699 dictionary of slang called it a derisive word for sweat An 1889 book of proverbs had a more flattering take on the expression noting that elbow grease makes wealth increase The author elaborates. Elbow polish or elbow grease is a fine article in a household and beats boars grease and goose grease into fits In. According to the following source the meaning has a literal origin from the supports skids that were greased to help with very heavy weights.

To grease the skids. Is a phrase which means to facilitate. Claims that it arose in shipbuilding where skids were used to facilitate getting the huge ships of the day into the water from the shipyards.

A lot of physical effort. A lot of physical effort. A lot of effort that you put into.

Definition of elbow grease. People use elbow grease to refer to the strength and energy that you use when doing physical work like rubbing or polishing. It took a considerable amount of polish and elbow grease before the brass shone like new.

COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright HarperCollins Publishers.