Where did the phrase elbow grease come from?
In 1699, the phrase “elbow grease” appeared in the “New Dictionary of the Canting Crew” defined as “a derisory Term for Sweat”. The phrase had existed for sometime before that, known as “the best substance for polishing furniture”. English isn’t the only language that has instances of this idiom.
What does the saying elbow grease mean?
hard work
Definition of elbow grease : hard work There is just no substitution for the elbow grease involved in promotion. You just have to get out there and work hard to get the word to the stores that the book is available.—
How do you use elbow grease in a sentence?
Elbow grease sentence example
- Easy bargain decorating is within reach with a little creative thinking and elbow grease.
- If using machines isn’t your style, then fixing scratched video games with some elbow grease might be the way to go.
Is elbow grease a real thing?
Nope! Elbow grease is not an actual miracle product that will make mud and grime disappear. It’s actually an idiom that refers to good old-fashioned hard work. An idiom is a phrase with a meaning that’s different from the meaning of the actual words used.
What is the definition for derisory?
Definition of derisory 1 : expressing derision : derisive. 2 : worthy of derision especially : laughably small land could be bought for a derisory sum.
How do you use knee jerk in a sentence?
You use the phrase ‘Knee Jerk Reaction’ to indicate that you’ve made an automatic response to something. Example of use: “I hauled off and hit him when he jumped out at me. I know he was playing a trick, but it was a knee jerk reaction!”
How do you use forty winks in a sentence?
John generally has forty winks going to work early in morning on the bus. Robert always like to catch forty winks after the lunch. When the pilot was catching forty winks – the plane was about to be crashed. I wonder how do the people can get forty winks when they are on the plane.
Is elbow grease toxic?
R10: Flammable. R38: Irritating to skin. R43: May cause sensitisation by skin contact. R50/53: Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.
Is elbow grease tested on animals?
From the Elbow Grease website…… “None of the ingredients used in the Elbow Grease formulation have been sourced from animals. Neither the finished product nor any of the ingredients have been tested on animals on behalf of 151 Products Ltd.”
What pillory means?
pillory \PILL-uh-ree\ noun. 1 : a wooden frame for public punishment having holes in which the head and hands can be locked. 2 : a means for exposing one to public scorn or ridicule.
Where does the saying fly off the handle come from?
“Fly off the Handle” is an American phrase that alludes to the way that an axe head can fly off its handle if it becomes loose. The expression was first seen in print in 1834, in Thomas C. Haliburton’s The Attaché; or, Sam Slick in England: “He flies right off the handle for nothing.” Go beyond correction.
Where did the term knee-jerk come from?
The expression ‘knee jerk reaction’ comes from medicine, where the jerking motion the knee makes when tapped is called the patellar reflex. First seen in print in 1877, it became common in the early 20th century.
What is the significance of knee-jerk?
In reaction these muscles contract, and the contraction tends to straighten the leg in a kicking motion. Exaggeration or absence of the reaction suggests that there may be damage to the central nervous system. The knee jerk can also be helpful in recognizing thyroid disease.
What is the origin of the term elbow grease?
Phrase elbow grease “hard rubbing” is attested from 1670s, from jocular sense of “the best substance for polishing furniture.” There’s a similarly colourful definition in Francis Grose’s 1785 A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue:
Where does the phrase’hard rubbing’come from?
The Online Etymology Dictionary says Phrase elbow grease “hard rubbing” is attested from 1670s, from jocular sense of “the best substance for polishing furniture.” There’s a similarly colourful definition in Francis Grose’s 1785 A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue: ELBOW GREASE, labour, elbow grease will make an oak table shine.
Where did the term’elbow grease’come from?
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 as well (buile de bras).” From the “Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins” by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997).
How do you say’elbow grease’?
In French we have ‘huile de bras’ or ‘l’huile de coude’, which translate as ‘elbow-grease’ and in Danish we find ‘knofedt’, which translates as ‘knuckle fat’.