by main strength and awkwardness

by main strength and awkwardness

By sheer force or physical strength. I couldn't get my car out of the mud until my brothers came along and moved it by main strength and awkwardness.
See also: and, awkwardness, by, main, strength
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

by main strength and awkwardness

Rur. by force or brute strength. Tom: How did you get that piano up the stairs? Mary: By main strength and awkwardness. By main strength and awkwardness, we got all the luggage crammed into the car.
See also: and, awkwardness, by, main, strength
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • awkwardness
  • by brute strength
  • main strength and awkwardness
  • be at full strength
  • be at/below full strength
  • go from strength to strength
  • at full strength
  • inner strength
  • be below full strength
  • main
References in classic literature
Three of the warriors were sitting upon me, trying to hold me down by main strength and awkwardness, and they were having their hands full in the doing, I can tell you.
The Land That Time Forgot