do the hard yards

do the hard yards

To do particularly hard work or put forth a large amount of effort (toward some task), especially in sports. You're never going to have a successful business if you aren't willing to do the hard yards yourself. Our team did the hard yards all game long, and we managed to pull out a victory in the end because of it.
See also: hard, yard

hard yards

Particularly hard work or a large amount of effort (toward some task), especially in sports. Often used with the verbs "do," "make," or "put in." You're never going to have a successful business if you aren't willing to put in the hard yards yourself. Our team did the hard yards all game long, and we managed to pull out a victory in the end because of it.
See also: hard, yard
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • break a sweat
  • go forth
  • from this/that day forth
  • break (one's) balls
  • break balls
  • break balls to do something
  • break one’s balls
  • set forth
  • bend (one's) efforts
  • bend your mind/efforts to something
References in periodicals archive
"We know you have to do the hard yards and these players enjoy doing the hard yards.