Phrases.com »

Phrases related to: least effort

Yee yee! We've found 223 phrases and idioms matching least effort.

Sort:RelevancyA - Z
a drop in the bucketAn effort or action having very little overall influence, especially as compared to a huge problem.Rate it:

(3.00 / 3 votes)
a hail maryLast ditch effort to accomplish something; ie: A simple Hail Mary was thrown to win the football game.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
a hundred and ten percentA level of effort exceeding one's sustained capacity, possibly risking injury.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
a stitch in time saves nineA little effort expended sooner to fix a small problem prevents it from becoming a larger problem requiring more effort to fix later; A little preparation can eliminate the need for repairs later; consistency (achieving a set rhythm) is better than trying to rush ahead.Rate it:

(4.43 / 7 votes)
absolutely taxingdifficult or needing a lot of thought or effortRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
acquired tasteSomething that is appreciated only after having initially been regarded as unappealing or unpleasant; a person who is regarded as difficult or dislikable but of whom at least some have grown to approve.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
add oilTo make extra effort.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
after you, AlphonseAn exchange indicating excessive formality or effort at politeness, particularly where two people each refuse to go forward because each insists on allowing the other to go forward first.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
all for naughtvariant of 'all for nothing'; said when an effort has resulted in failure; in vain; for nothingRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
all outusing maximum effortRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
aluminum showerAn event at which people give household items made of aluminum to the war effort.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
Appendix:Glossary of baseball jargon (S)The pitcher fulfills at least one of the following three conditions:Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
apply oneselfTo put forth a concerted effort; to try; to focus.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
après l'effort, le réconfortOn apprécie le repos qui vient après un effort, une épreuve.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
at a canterWithout much effort; easily.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
at painsMaking careful effort (to).Rate it:

(2.00 / 1 vote)
at the push of a buttonVery easily, with little effortRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
at the very leastat least; as an absolute minimumRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
balancing actAn effort to manage many conflicting or competing items or interests.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
balls to the wall(With) maximum effort or commitment. [since the 1960s]Rate it:

(4.67 / 3 votes)
bare necessitiesthe very least that is enough to get byRate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
bargain basementAn area within a retail store, especially an area located below ground level, where the least costly merchandise can be found.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
bat aroundWhen at least nine batters bat in a half inning.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
beat one's head against a stone wallTo waste effort on a futile project.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
beg for mercyThis can be taken quite literally and simply means to plead for kindness - either to be spared or at least killed as quickly and painlessly as possible. Particularly when you are in a helpless position.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
bend over backwardsTo make a great effort; to take extraordinary care; to go to great lengths.Rate it:

(2.33 / 3 votes)
boom goes the dynamiteIndicating that something spectacular has happened, particularly where a plan or an effort has successfully culminated.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
break a sweatTo put effort into something.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
break one's backTo make a supreme effort.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bring (one's) a-gamerefers to bringing maximum effort, focus and undeniable commitment; an encouragement to do your best with no excuses; giving it your allRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bring it weakTo fail to accomplish an accomplishable task or to make an attempt at less than maximum effort; to "half-ass" or "fake the funk".Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
buckle downTo put forth the needed effort; to focus; become serious; apply oneself.Rate it:

(4.50 / 8 votes)
bury the hatchetTo stop fighting or arguing; to reach an agreement, or at least a truce.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
bust a nutto work very hard, put in a lot of effortRate it:

(1.00 / 2 votes)
bust chopsTo nag; to berate or hound in an effort to elicit action.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
bust one's assTo work very hard, to put in a lot of effort.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
bust one's ballsto work very hard; to put in a lot of effort.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
c'est le cadet de mes soucisThat is the least of my cares; That is the last thing I worry about.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
CAVOKAcronym of Ceiling and visibility OK., sometimes alternatively interpreted as "Clouds and Visibility OK", a weather status report for pilots when visibility is at least 10 kilometres, there are no clouds below 5000 feet or minimum sector altitude, and there is no current or forecast significant weather such as precipitation.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
change horses in midstreamTo change plans or approaches at an inopportune time, such as when an effort is already underway, generally considered an inadvisable thing to do.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
charge downTo run towards something in an effort to stop it going forward.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
claw backTo recover or retake, with great effort, something that was lost.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
come atTo get to, especially with effort or difficulty.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
dein Wort in Gottes Ohrfrom your lips to God's ears; I wish; expresses that the speaker wants a preceding statement to be true, but considers it unlikely or at least doubtfulRate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
do one's bitTo make an individual contribution toward an overall effort.Rate it:

(1.00 / 1 vote)
do one's damnedestTo do one's utmost; to make every effort or to try every possible approach or way.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
do one's darnedestTo do one's utmost; to make every effort or to try every possible approach or way.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
do one's utmostTo make the greatest possible effort.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)
do-or-dieRequiring a determined or desperate effort to avoid the consequences of failure.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
dog itTo underperform; to lag behind; to fail to exert effort.Rate it:

(0.00 / 0 votes)

We need you!

Help us build the largest human-edited phrases collection on the web!

Alternative searches for least effort:

Quiz

Are you a phrases master?

»
A ____ dinner.
A dog's
B cat's
C tiger's
D lion's