exert

exert (oneself)

To make a concerted effort to do something. With the poor grades you've gotten so far, you're really going to have to exert yourself to get a C this semester.
See also: exert
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

exert oneself

Put oneself to strenuous effort, as in We exerted ourselves mightily to raise funds. [First half of 1700s]
See also: exert
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • exert (oneself)
  • exert oneself
  • rub at
  • rub at (something)
  • lift a finger
  • lift a hand
  • put (one's) backbone into (something)
  • backbone
  • lean over backwards to (do something)
  • get your claws into someone
References in periodicals archive
No pressure is exerted," the General Prosecutor's Office said.
18 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa affirmed that Bahrain's urban and cultural developments are the result of the relentless efforts exerted by the government that has placed citizens at the core of its focus and has embraced development as a means to achieve their goals.
Minister al-Moallem reviewed the efforts exerted by the international organizations including the WFP to alleviate the difficult circumstances which the Syrian citizens are suffering from, particularly after the improvement of the security conditions and as the refugees and displaced started to return following the victories achieved by the Syrian Arab Army against terrorism in many areas across Syria.
He stressed the necessity for strengthening and development of the police bodies, pointing out that Sudan exerts utmost efforts and gives great concern to the police forces to maintain security on the regiomnal level in coordination with the EAPCOO and Interpol police.
In an interview, Sylikiotis expressed the view that the "European Commission and the Council have the tools to exert pressure on Turkey so that it stops all these illegal actions."
'In general, the efforts exerted by the three groups of agents-parents, school and child affect one another.
Furthermore, in corrupt societies the members of a political party exert efforts to conceal information regarding corruption in the party, whereas members of the civil society exert efforts to uncover it (OECD 2003).
European football's governing body said regulations "strictly forbid any club to exert, or attempt to exert, any influence whatsoever over the players another club may or may not field".
The relatives of the pilgrims have been targeting Turkish interests in Lebanon for over two weeks now, in a bid to exert pressure on who they feel can secure the release of their loved ones.
Dr Hope found those who had been asked to exert themselves physically remembered less about the target individual and made more recall errors compared to the control group of observers.
Research suggests that various factors exert upward and downward pressure on child poverty rates.
Summary: Rabat - Morocco calls on the international community to exert tangible pressure on the other parties to find a solution to the Sahara issue, Minister of Communication, government Spokesman, Khalid Naciri, said on Thursday.
But from the ownership of the key I can exert control over the information without having to own the rest of the infrastructure.