Effort is the driving force behind achievements and progress. Understanding idioms that describe effort can enrich your language and convey the intensity and dedication behind actions. Here are 20 idioms that perfectly capture various aspects of effort.
1. Bend Over Backwards
Meaning: Go to great lengths
Example: She bent over backwards to help.
2. Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Meaning: Hard work
Example: The project took blood, sweat, and tears.
3. Pull Out All the Stops
Meaning: Use all resources
Example: They pulled out all the stops for the event.
4. Go the Extra Mile
Meaning: Make additional effort
Example: He always goes the extra mile for clients.
5. Burn the Midnight Oil
Meaning: Work late
Example: She burned the midnight oil studying.
6. Leave No Stone Unturned
Meaning: Explore all options
Example: They left no stone unturned in the search.
7. Put Your Heart and Soul Into
Meaning: Fully commit
Example: He put his heart and soul into the job.
8. Give It Your All
Meaning: Put in maximum effort
Example: She gave it her all in the competition.
9. Move Heaven and Earth
Meaning: Do whatever it takes
Example: They moved heaven and earth to succeed.
10. Work Like a Dog
Meaning: Work very hard
Example: He worked like a dog all week.
11. Sweat Blood
Meaning: Work extremely hard
Example: They sweat blood to meet the deadline.
12. Pull Your Weight
Meaning: Do your share
Example: Everyone needs to pull their weight on the team.
13. Go to Great Lengths
Meaning: Make significant effort
Example: She went to great lengths to prepare.
14. Put in the Hours
Meaning: Spend a lot of time
Example: He put in the hours to master the skill.
15. Make a Supreme Effort
Meaning: Try very hard
Example: They made a supreme effort to finish on time.
16. Bust a Gut
Meaning: Work extremely hard
Example: He busted a gut to complete the project.
17. Break Your Back
Meaning: Make a huge effort
Example: She broke her back getting everything ready.
18. Go All Out
Meaning: Use maximum effort
Example: They went all out for the performance.
19. Give It Everything You’ve Got
Meaning: Put in maximum effort
Example: He gave it everything he had in the race.
20. Take Pains
Meaning: Make a lot of effort
Example: She took pains to ensure accuracy.
