show willing
Signal your eagerness
To show willing is to demonstrate readiness or eagerness to help, even if the gesture is largely symbolic.
The phrase is primarily British: I don't know much about cars, but I'll hold the torch to show willing.
It suggests making an effort to appear cooperative or enthusiastic, whether or not one can contribute substantially.
- pitch inContribute effort cooperatively
- muck inHelp with shared labor
- get stuck inStart with enthusiasm
- initiativeSelf-directed action capacity
- pull one's weightDo one's fair share
do one's bit · cooperation · eagerness · go the extra mile · commitment · readiness · enthusiasm · effort · rise to the occasion · volunteering · make an effort · give it a go · good faith · obliging · compliance · step up to the plate · lend a hand · participation
show willingdrag one's feet
Deliberately slow progress
dig in one's heels · resist · hold back · foot-dragging · balk
show willinggo through the motions
Act perfunctorily, without conviction
phone it in · slack off · shirk · coast
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