Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Elbow grease is sweat? Indulge me in my unauthoritative protest. I always thought the point of "put some elbow grease into it" was that it referred to trying to remove a bolt that's stuck. If you haven't got any real grease to lubricate it with, all you can do is lean into it with more torque--elbow grease.