strength

at full strength

at the strongest amount, dilution, power, loudness, etc. You should use this medicine at full strength, even if it tastes bad.

See also: full

by brute strength

by great muscular strength. The men moved the heavy door by brute strength.

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, main

main strength and awkwardness

Fig. great force; brute force. They finally got the piano moved in to the living room by main strength and awkwardness. Lifting the antique table must be done carefully. This is not a job requiring main strength and awkwardness.

See also: and, main

not know one's own strength

not to realize how destructive or harmful one's strength can be. I didn't mean to hurt you. I guess I don't know my own strength. He might break the door down by accident. He doesn't know his own strength and could end up pushing too hard against the door.

See also: know

on the strength of something

Fig. because of the support of something, such as a promise or evidence; due to something. On the strength of your comment, I decided to give John another chance. On the strength of my testimony, my case was dismissed.

pillar of strength and pillar of support

someone or something that consistently provides moral, emotional, or financial support as does a pillar. My parents are my pillars of support. John looked to God as his pillar of strength.

See also: pillar

tower of strength

Fig. a person who can always be depended on to provide support and encouragement, especially in times of trouble. Mary was a tower of strength when Jean was in the hospital. She looked after her whole family. Jack was a tower of strength during the time that his father was unemployed.

See also: tower

Union is strength.

Prov. If people join together, they are more powerful than if they work by themselves. The students decided to join together in order to present their grievances to the faculty, since union is strength. We cannot allow our opponents to divide us. Union is strength.

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a pillar/tower of strength

someone who gives a lot of support to someone else who is in a difficult situation Roger was a tower of strength when my parents died.

See also: pillar

go from strength to strength

to become better and better or more and more successful The firm has gone from strength to strength since he took over as manager.

on the strength of something  

1. if you do something on the strength of facts or advice, you do it because you are influenced by them On the strength of the projected sales figures, we decided to expand our business.

2. if you get a job or an opportunity on the strength of something you have done, you get it because what you did was good enough to persuade someone you deserve it He was accepted for the writing course on the strength of a few articles in his local paper.

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a pillar of strength

someone who is emotionally very strong Roger was a pillar of strength when my father died.

See also: pillar

go from strength to strength

to become increasingly successful The firm has gone from strength to strength since she took over as manager.

on the strength of something

because of something that has influenced or persuaded you On the strength of last month's sales figures, we decided to expand our business. He was offered a teaching position on the strength of his experience in sales and marketing.