PhrasesHub

Blood, sweat and tears

    Definitions

      • Hard work and effort
        Describing the physical, emotional, and mental effort put into a task or goal

      • Sacrifice and struggle
        Referring to the challenges and difficult choices that must be made in order to achieve success or reach a goal

      • Intense determination and perseverance
        Emphasizing the determination and perseverance required to overcome obstacles and achieve success

    Examples of Blood, sweat and tears

    • The CEO of the company worked tirelessly for years to keep the business afloat, she shed blood, sweat and tears to ensure its success.

      The meaning of this idiom is that the CEO put in an immense amount of effort and endured many hardships to save the company. "Blood" refers to facing difficult and stressful situations, "sweat" refers to working hard, and "tears" refers to being emotionally drained or stressed.

    • The athletes pushed their bodies to their limits, they gave blood, sweat and tears during every grueling practice session.

      This example shows that the athletes also worked very hard to improve their skills and endured a great deal of pain and exhaustion to do so. The idiom can be used in this example because the athletes literally sweated a lot and potentially even bled, but it could also be interpreted that they shed tears due to the difficulty and stress of the practices.

    • The student studied for hours on end, sacrificing sleep to meet his academic requirements. It was blood, sweat and tears, but he managed to graduate with honours.

      In this example, "blood" represents the sleepless nights and constant alertness required for study, "sweat" refers to the mental effort involved in studying, and "tears" represent the emotional and mental stress of meeting high academic standards.

    • The team worked tirelessly over the weekend, giving blood, sweat and tears to finish the project ahead of schedule.

      This example shows that the team was determined to finish the project quickly, and so worked incredibly hard to do so. The idiom is appropriate because it highlights that the team faced tough challenges, such as working long hours, and faced difficult decisions in completing the project. They also likely shed tears due to the tension and pressure of meeting the tight deadline.

    • The project was a huge success, it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get there.

      This idiom is used to describe a situation where a person has devoted a large amount of effort, energy and emotion into achieving a specific goal. The phrase "blood, sweat and tears" represents the sacrifices, struggles and hard work needed to accomplish something.

    • Working in a restaurant kitchen was no picnic, it was a nightmare of blood, sweat and tears.

      In this example, the phrase "blood, sweat and tears" is used to describe a difficult and challenging situation. The image of blood, sweat and tears is used to convey the intense and grueling nature of working in a busy restaurant kitchen.

    • I poured my heart and soul into this project, and all I got were blood, sweat and tears.

      This example uses the idiom in a figurative way to express the speaker's immense effort and emotional investment into a project. The phrase "blood, sweat and tears" is used to emphasize the level of hard work and determination required to complete a difficult task.

    • Marathon runners shed blood, sweat and tears as they cross the finish line.

      In this example, the phrase "blood, sweat and tears" is used to describe the intense physical and emotional toll that endurance athletes experience during competition. It highlights the immense effort and sacrifice that is required to complete a challenging event like a marathon.


    Conclusion

    "Blood, sweat and tears" is a powerful idiom that conveys the idea of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance. It is often used to describe the immense effort and dedication that goes into achieving a goal or completing a task. It can also be used to acknowledge the struggles and challenges that must be faced in order to reach success.

    The idiom is commonly used in a figurative sense, with "blood" representing physical effort and exertion, "sweat" symbolizing emotional and mental strain, and "tears" representing the sacrifices and struggles that must be endured. It can also be interpreted as a literal phrase, referring to the literal blood, sweat, and tears that may be shed during strenuous physical labor or difficult situations.

    Origin of "Blood, sweat and tears"

    The origin of the idiom "blood, sweat and tears" can be traced back to a speech made by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. In 1940, during the height of World War II, Churchill delivered a speech to the British Parliament in which he famously stated, "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat." This phrase was meant to rally and inspire the British people during a time of great hardship and struggle.

    Over time, the phrase evolved into the more commonly used "blood, sweat and tears" and has since been used in various contexts to convey the idea of hard work and sacrifice. It has also been referenced in popular culture, including in music and literature. The idiom continues to be a powerful and widely recognized way to describe the determination and perseverance required to achieve success.