hammer and tongs
adverb
with great vigor, determination, or vehemence: When he starts a job he goes at it hammer and tongs.
Origin of hammer and tongs
First recorded in 1700–10
SYNONYMS FOR hammer and tongs
Words nearby hammer and tongs
hamman-rich syndrome,
hammarskjöld,
hammarskjöld, dag,
hammer,
hammer and sickle,
hammer and tongs,
hammer away at,
hammer beam,
hammer blow,
hammer drill,
hammer finger
Example sentences from the Web for hammer and tongs
Idioms and Phrases with hammer and tongs
hammer and tongs
Forcefully, with great vigor. For example, She went at the weeds hammer and tongs, determined to clean out the long neglected flowerbed. Often put as go at it hammer and tongs, this phrase alludes to the blacksmith's tools. [c. 1700]