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Hadeka Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary

More power to your elbow!

Hi,

Can we use this expression just in the context of "writing"?
(My instructor wrote me an email. She said that she was very busy...) Can I use this expression as a wish in my response?)

Also she said that she is sorry for the delay. When someone says that s/he is sorry, what may I use as a response? Ex: "Not at all" -- Is this proper?


Thanks,
hadeka
  

Top answer

' sounds very strange to me, Hadeka (but that doesn't mean it's wrong, just that it may be unfamiliar to some). How about 'more power to your pen'? 'Not at all' would be fine, but it may need a clarifying phrase, like 'not at all; please write at your leisure' or something similar.

— Mister Micawber

  • ' sounds very strange to me, Hadeka (but that doesn't mean it's wrong, just that it may be unfamiliar to some).
  • How about 'more power to your pen'?
  • 'Not at all' would be fine, but it may need a clarifying phrase, like 'not at all; please write at your leisure' or something similar.
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7 Answers
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'More power to your elbow!' sounds very strange to me, Hadeka (but that doesn't mean it's wrong, just that it may be unfamiliar to some). How about 'more power to your pen'?

'Not at all' would be fine, but it may need a clarifying phrase, like 'not at all; please write at your leisure' or something similar.
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Thanks Mister Micawber!
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I can think of one usage for the said phrase.

Julie: I tried to elbow my way through, but I only managed to get one person out of my way.
Mr. Impolite: I can do better than that.
Julie: Really? Then more power to your elbow!

haha
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This is quite a common phrase in BrE.

I suppose the metaphor must be from 'polishing' or 'cleaning'.

It's used by speaker B as a positive reaction to speaker A's statement about XYZ: 'may you continue to do XYZ with increased vigour and success!'

A: I'm getting up a petition about the state of public transport in this area.
B: More power to your elbow! Where do
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Hi,
'may you continue to do XYZ with increased vigour and success!'


That is exactly what I've wanted to say. (My dictionary also defines the phrase in the same way.)

(But I use also my instructor AmE.)

Thanks MrPedantic!
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A related Americanism is to say "Use more elbow grease." which implies applying more vigor to a situation.
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Hmm...the 'elbow' phrases might be taken as an implicit criticism, in this context!

MrP
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