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strength
inner strength
One's resolve or determination. You have to draw on your inner strength—it will carry you through an experience like this.
pillar of strength
A supportive or emotionally strong person. My aunt has been a pillar of strength for me, helping me through many difficult moments in my life.
at full strength
At the maximum strength, capacity, or level of power or ability. Give her a dose of that painkiller at full strength. It took awhile, but I'm finally back at full strength after my injury. Now that the army is at full strength, the smaller opposing side doesn't stand a chance.
at full strength
at the strongest amount, dilution, power, loudness, etc. You should use this medicine at full strength, even if it tastes bad.
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.
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.
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.
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 supportsomeone 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.
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.
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.
a pillar of strength
someone who is emotionally very strong Roger was a pillar of strength when my father died.
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.
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.
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.
brute force
Also, brute strength. Savage violence, unreasoning strength, as in We hope that reason will triumph over brute force. Although this expression is also used literally to mean exceptional physical power, the figurative sense reflects the origin for brute, which comes from Latin brutus, for "heavy, stupid, unreasoning." [First half of 1700s]
on the strength of
On the basis of, as in She was hired on the strength of her computer skills. [Early 1600s]
tower of strength
A dependable person on whom one can lean in time of trouble, as in After Dad died Grandma was a tower of strength for the whole family. This expression, first recorded in 1549, originally was used most often to refer to God and heaven, but Shakespeare had it differently in Richard III (5:3): "Besides, the King's name is a tower of strength."
on the strength of
On the basis of: She was hired on the strength of her computer skills.