Putting in effort is essential for achieving success and overcoming challenges. Whether you’re working hard at your job, studying for exams, or striving to reach a personal goal, using the right expressions can help convey your dedication and determination. Here are 20 expressions related to effort that you can use in various contexts.
1. Give it your all
Meaning: Try your best
Example: She gave it her all in the race.
2. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Work late into the night
Example: He burned the midnight oil studying for exams.
3. Go the extra mile
Meaning: Make additional effort
Example: She always goes the extra mile for her clients.
4. Pull out all the stops
Meaning: Make every possible effort
Example: They pulled out all the stops for the event.
5. Work your fingers to the bone
Meaning: Work extremely hard
Example: He worked his fingers to the bone on the project.
6. Put your back into it
Meaning: Use more physical effort
Example: You need to put your back into it to lift that.
7. Sweat blood
Meaning: Work very hard
Example: They sweated blood to meet the deadline.
8. Leave no stone unturned
Meaning: Try every possible way
Example: She left no stone unturned in her job search.
9. Pull your weight
Meaning: Do your fair share of work
Example: Everyone needs to pull their weight on the team.
10. Bend over backward
Meaning: Make a great effort
Example: They bent over backward to please the guests.
11. Put your heart and soul into
Meaning: Commit fully
Example: He put his heart and soul into the project.
12. Put in the hours
Meaning: Spend a lot of time working
Example: She put in the hours to complete her thesis.
13. Bust a gut
Meaning: Try extremely hard
Example: He busted a gut to finish on time.
14. Push yourself to the limit
Meaning: Use maximum effort
Example: She pushed herself to the limit during training.
15. Go all out
Meaning: Use all your effort
Example: They went all out for the competition.
16. Keep your nose to the grindstone
Meaning: Work hard and consistently
Example: He kept his nose to the grindstone all year.
17. Take pains
Meaning: Make a lot of effort
Example: She took pains to ensure accuracy.
18. Put your nose to the grindstone
Meaning: Focus and work hard
Example: You need to put your nose to the grindstone.
19. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps
Meaning: Improve by your own efforts
Example: He pulled himself up by his bootstraps after the setback.
20. Go to great lengths
Meaning: Make significant effort
Example: They went to great lengths to make it perfect.
