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]

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。