in earnest
in earnest
With sincere intentions. If the two sides can't sit down and negotiate in earnest, they're never going to come to an agreement.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
*in earnest
with sincerity. (*Typically: act ~; be ~; speak ~.) I've done all the research I need. I spent the day writing the paper in earnest. Mary's comments were in earnest. She really meant them.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
in earnest
1. With purposeful or sincere intent, as in We settled down to study in earnest. [c. a.d. 1000]
2. Also, in dead earnest. Serious, determined, as in We thought he was joking, but he was in earnest, or I'm in dead earnest about selling the business. In the variant, from the late 1800s, dead means "completely" or "thoroughly" and is used purely for emphasis. [c. a.d. 1000]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
in ˈearnest
1 more seriously and with more force or effort than before: The work on the building will begin in earnest on Monday.
2 very serious and sincere about what you are saying and about your intentions; in a way that shows that you are serious: You may laugh but I’m in deadly earnest. I could tell she was speaking in earnest.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
in earnest
1. With a purposeful or sincere intent: settled down to study in earnest for the examination.
2. Serious; determined: "Both sides are deeply in earnest, with passions that approximate those of civil war" (Conor Cruise O'Brien).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- on one's
- on someone's
- out of one's
- (I've) got to go
- save someone's skin
- (Have you) been OK?
- other than
- other than (something)
- pillow-biter
- it's dogged that does it