hammer and tongs
With violent energy
Hammer and tongs describes vigorous, energetic action—going at something with full force and intensity.
The phrase evokes a blacksmith working metal, striking with a hammer while gripping with tongs: They went at each other hammer and tongs.
It suggests sustained effort or heated conflict: The two sides argued hammer and tongs for hours.
- furiouslyIn an enraged manner
- with a vengeanceExtremely, intensely, forcefully
- arduouslyWith strenuous effort
- tooth and nailWith desperate intensity
- hot and heavyIntensely amorous or fervent
fire and fury · at full blast · perseveringly · relentlessly · industriously · pedal to the metal · balls to the wall · forge · like mad · feverishly · earnestly · tenaciously · flat out · all out effort · anvil · persistently · full tilt · going great guns
hammer and tongshalf-heartedly
With little genuine effort
halfheartedly · lackadaisically · tepidly · listlessly · indifferently
hammer and tongsleisurely
Done without urgency
unhurriedly · slowly · at a snail's pace · sluggishly · taking one's time
hammer, hammering, mallet, tongs, hammered, hammers, hammerhead, sledgehammer, claw hammer