rolls up one's sleeves
Readies for work
To roll up one's sleeves is to prepare for hard work or serious effort.
The image comes from physically pushing shirt sleeves above the elbows to keep them clean during manual labor.
The figurative sense dominates: Congress needs to roll up its sleeves and fix the tax code.
It signals readiness to engage with a difficult task.
- gear upPrepare for activity
- executeCarry out fully
- toilStrenuous, prolonged effort
- prepareMake ready beforehand
- grindCrush into particles
hustle · labor · commit · dedicate · tackle · apply · dig in · dive in · brace · get cracking · get to work · implement · knuckle down · persevere · organize · handle · get one's hands dirty · arrange
rolls up one's sleevessits on one's hands
Refrains from acting
drags one's feet · sits back · kicks back · procrastinates · throws in the towel
rolls up one's sleevesgives up
Ceases effort or resistance
throws in the towel · quits · surrenders · waves the white flag · calls it quits
rolls, rolled, rolling, roller, sleeve, sleeves, sleeved, sleeveless