elbow grease

• 1. 

  N-UNCOUNT People use elbow grease to refer to the strength and energy that you use when doing physical work like rubbing or polishing. 诸如擦拭等费体力的工作 [非正式]

  例：

  It took a considerable amount of polish and elbow grease before the brass shone.

  经过了大量的抛光和擦拭后，这块黄铜才露出光芒。