Perseverance - Determination & Hard Work

Discover how English idioms like "stop at nothing" and "play for keeps" relate to determination and hard work in English.

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to [give] a good account of {oneself} [phrase]

to perform, behave, or do something extremely well, particularly in a competitive situation

Ex: He gave a good account of himself during the important presentation .

to [keep|put] {one's} nose to the grindstone [phrase]

to continuously put a lot of effort into doing something

Ex: He kept his nose to the grindstone throughout the project and delivered exceptional results .

to [play] for keeps [phrase]

to do something in a very serious and determined manner without showing mercy

Ex: He played for keeps in the chess tournament , using advanced strategies to secure victory .

to [have] nothing to lose [phrase]

to be in such a bad situation that it does not matter if one fails at something, because one's situation cannot get worse

Ex: We had nothing to lose by speaking up , so we voiced our concerns and fought for change .

to [put|keep|set|have] {one's} [shoulder] to the wheel [phrase]

to start something in a very energetic and determined manner

Ex: He set his shoulder to the wheel and completed the arduous task ahead of schedule .

to [run] on fumes [phrase]

to continue functioning despite being extremely tired

Ex: He ran on fumes for weeks during the busy season at work .

to [set] {one's} heart on {sth} [phrase]

to have a strong desire to achieve or do something

Ex:

to [stop] at nothing [phrase]

to do whatever one can in order to achieve what one desires

Ex: He stopped at nothing to win the championship , training day and night and pushing himself to the limit .

to [hang] (on|) in there [phrase]

to continue trying to succeed regardless of difficulties or challenges

Ex: We encouraged him to hang on in there during the tough times , and eventually , he overcame the obstacles .

to [get] on top of {sth} [phrase]

to be able to handle and manage a situation or thing successfully

Ex: He got on top of the situation by addressing the issues promptly and implementing necessary changes .

to [give] {one's} (right arm|eyetooth) [phrase]

to stop at nothing to obtain or do something

Ex: I would have given my right arm to attend that concert last night .

if it is the last thing {sb} [do] [sentence]

used to show how extremely determined someone is to do something

Ex:

once and for all [phrase]

in a way that finalizes and completes the matter at hand

Ex: They resolved their differences once and for all during the meeting .

stiff upper lip [noun]

the ability to hide one's emotions and seem calm in unpleasant or difficult situations

Ex: He is known for his ability to maintain a stiff upper lip in difficult times .

there [is] no (stopping|holding) {sb} [sentence]

used to say that preventing someone from doing something is not possible because of their determination

Ex:

to [break] the back of {sth} [phrase]

to manage to finish the most important or most difficult part of something, particularly a task

Ex: The team breaks the back of challenges by collaborating effectively and finding innovative solutions .

like a dog with a bone [phrase]

used to refer to someone who has made their decision and is not about to let anyone or anything stop them

Ex: He pursued his passion relentlessly , holding onto it like a dog with a bone throughout his entire career .

to [eat] (the|that) frog [phrase]

to encourage someone to start doing the most difficult or unpleasant task, rather than avoiding or postponing it

Ex: She eats the frog regularly , prioritizing the toughest tasks to ensure efficient progress throughout the day .

to [break] {one's} back [phrase]

to work as hard as one can to achieve a particular result

Ex: If they want to succeed , they will have to break their back to prepare for the competition ; it wo n't be easy .

to [put] {one's} heart (and soul|) into {sth} [phrase]

to devote much time and effort with optimism to accomplish a goal

Ex: I put my heart and soul into my relationships , nurturing them with love and care . "

to [tie] up loose ends [phrase]

to finish something that is left unfinished

Ex:

to [step] on the gas [phrase]

to make an attempt to do something better or faster than others

Ex: I step on the gas with my studies , dedicating extra time and effort to excel academically .

Perseverance
Determination & Hard Work	Persistence	Doing One's Best	Making Great Efforts
Trying Hard	Giving Something a Try	Getting Started	Lack of Effort
Process & Completion