Uses Elbow Grease is an idiom that refers to hard work and effort. RUBS, TOILS and SCOURS are all verbs that can be used to describe the physical effort required to accomplish a task. RUBS means to move one's hands back and forth over a surface in order to clean or polish it. TOILS means to work hard and laboriously. SCOURS means to clean something thoroughly by scrubbing it. Together, these three words illustrate the idea of using hard work and effort to achieve a goal.