Effort
A big ask
Meaning
A favour which is a lot to ask of someone.
Examples
Tod had only just got home from his overnight flight when his boss told him to get back to the airport and fly to Sydney. That was a big ask.
Where did it originate?
Australia.
Where is it used?
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A sledgehammer to crack a nut
Meaning
The use of excessive resources to overcome a small problem.
Examples
Using the air ambulance to get granny to hospital was a sledgehammer to crack a nut. She could walk perfectly well and we only live 200 yards away.
Where did it originate?
Where is it used?
Widely used.
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A stitch in time saves nine
Meaning
A small effort made at the right time might save a calamity later on.
Examples
Fixing that frayed rope was a real stitch in time. It would probably have snapped when the wind got up later if we hadn’t.
Where did it originate?
The United Kingdom. A very old proverb.
Where is it used?
In use worldwide, but less commonly than before and mainly by the older generation.
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Actions speak louder than words
Meaning
Actions show one’s character more than what you say.
Examples
She spoke up for the immigrants but he gave them a bed in his house – actions speak louder than words.
Where did it originate?
The United Kingdom – 17th century.
Where is it used?
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Bend over backwards
Meaning
Make extravagant efforts to avoid bias.
Examples
Everyone assumed the commentators would prefer their own team. They had to bend over backwards to show that they were being fair.
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Bring your A game
Meaning
Perform to the best of your ability.
Examples
The cup game tomorrow is the biggest in the club’s history. Everyone in the team needs to bring his A game.
Where did it originate?
USA, 20th century.
Where is it used?
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Burn the midnight oil
Meaning
To work late into the night.
Examples
Sorry, I can’t come to the pub. This report’s due at 9am and I’ll need to burn the midnight oil if I am going to get it finished.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 17th century.
Where is it used?
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Cream crackered
Meaning
Cockney rhyming slang for knackered. – note, when this term was coined, cream crackers were a popular snack in the UK.
Examples
That’s an hour on the exercise bike. I can’t do any more – I’m crackered.
Where did it originate?
Where is it used?
Mostly Britain.
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Crunch time
Meaning
The period of time just before a project has to be completed.
Examples
The exam is tomorrow and I need to pass – it’s crunch time for me.
Where did it originate?
Sir Winston Churchill coined and often used the expression ‘it comes to the crunch’ and this is the source of the ‘crunch time’ variant.
Where is it used?
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Cut corners
Meaning
Doing things in a slipshod way, to avoid expense or effort.
Examples
We should be using best butter for this recipe, but he’s cutting corners and using oil.
Where did it originate?
Rudyard Kipling, late 19th century.
Where is it used?
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Elbow grease
Meaning
Energetic labour, especially in the polishing of household items.
Examples
That silver will never get a shine like that – put some elbow grease into it.
Where did it originate?
Britain, late 17th century.
Where is it used?
Britain, mostly by the older generation.
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Get a gold star
Meaning
Earn a merit point for doing well.
Examples
Well done Juliet. 100% in your maths test = you are due a gold star.
Where did it originate?
USA, late 19th century. First found in the US magazine The Ladies’ Home Journal.
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Go the extra mile
Meaning
Going beyond what is usually required. Make an extra effort.
Examples
He needed have picked me up from the airport. I’m grateful that he went the extra mile.
Where did it originate?
USA, late 19th century.
Where is it used?
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Hit the books
Meaning
To study, especially for a test or exam.
Examples
I’ve done no work for the end of terms exams. I need to hit the books bigtime.
Where did it originate?
USA
Where is it used?
Mostly USA.
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Keep your chin up
Meaning
Remain positive in a tough situation.
Examples
Sorry to hear that you were made redundant on the day your buried your mother. Keep your chin up mate.
Where did it originate?
USA, late 19th century.
Where is it used?
Although derived in the USA this idiom is more commonly heard now in Britain.
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No rush
Meaning
Said to someone to indicate that you aren’t in a hurry for them to complete their task.
Examples
You can finish your tea before you start on my photocopying. I’ve got to wait here for Jim anyway, so there’s no rush.
Where is it used?
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On a hiding to nothing
Meaning
Faced with a hopeless situation, even after making one’s best efforts.
Examples
We knew that our trip to Australia was a hiding to nothing. We had to play with jet lag and they had a much stronger team anyway.
Where did it originate?
Britain, early 1900s.
Where is it used?
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Run out of steam
Meaning
Completely out of energy.
Examples
I was going strong in the marathon until I hit the wall at the twenty mile mark. Then I was right out of steam.
Where is it used?
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How the idiom originated
Scrape together
Meaning
To manage, with difficulty, enough of what is needed – especially money.
Examples
Between three three of us we managed to scrape together £5 for a taxi home.
Where is it used?
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Scrub up
Meaning
Make an effort to present oneself well dressed and smartly turned out.
Examples
I’d only ever seen Jim in jeans before. Now he’s in a suit and had a haircut I think he scrubs up really well.
Where did it originate?
Derived as an allusion to the intensive scrubbing that surgeons undertake to be especially clean for operations.
Where is it used?
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