Hammer and Tongs, Go at It
Engage with great vigor in work, a contest, a fight, or some other undertaking. This lively idiom stems from blacksmithing, where the hammer and tongs are essential tools— like wielding vocabulary at its hottest and shaping expressions! Before “hammer and tongs,” people used the metaphor “between the hammer and the anvil,” akin to today’s “between a rock and a hard place.” The current phrase was hammered into print by 1708 and clanked around as a cliché by the mid-nineteenth century.
Synonyms and Related Terms
- Full throttle
- At full blast
- Go for broke
- Give it your all
Similar Proverbs and Expressions
- “All in a day’s work”: Accepting strenuous work as part of the routine.
- “Burning the midnight oil”: Working late into the night with determination.
- “Giving 110%”: Putting in extra effort, more than what seems possible.
Quote Time
“Life is a forge, and every day is a pounding session. Either you make something of yourself, or you chip away little by little.” — Fictitious Wise Person
Literary & Cultural References
- Books: “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway – Santiago goes at it hammer and tongs with the marlin.
- Movies: Rocky (1976) – Sylvester Stallone’s character, Rocky Balboa, fights but also lives his life hammer and tongs.
- Songs: “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor – Perfect anthem for going at it hammer and tongs.
- Poetry: “If” by Rudyard Kipling – Encouraging the will to go at life vigorously.
And with that, may you go at life hammer and tongs, turning the metal of your days into masterpieces. Remember, every mighty endeavor starts with a fierce fire in your heart—so forge ahead! 🚀
