might and main

might and main
1. adverb
With all ones strength; as hard as one can.

I found myself hanging on the skysail-yard, holding on might and main to the mast; and curling my feet round the rigging, as if they were another pair of hands.

2. noun
All ones strength.

Thinking that we were about to be taken up under the act for the suppression of vagrancy, we flew out of the house, sprang into a canoe before the door, and paddled with might and main over to the opposite side of the lake.


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  • might and main — This means with all your effort and strength.  As he failed in the previous exam,the student tried might and main to pass the next one …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • might and main — adverb : with might and main : vigorously such as any sage practical politician would strive might and main to avoid G.E.G.Catlin * * * might and main Utmost strength • • • Main Entry: ↑main might and main Utmost strength …   Useful english dictionary

  • might and main — (with) might and main formal with all your effort and strength. War is something we should be working might and main to avoid …   New idioms dictionary

  • With all one's might and main — Main Main, n. [AS. m[ae]gen strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan, Icel. megin, and to E. may, v. [root]103. See {May}, v.] 1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.] [1913 Webster] There were in this… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • With might and main — Main Main, n. [AS. m[ae]gen strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan, Icel. megin, and to E. may, v. [root]103. See {May}, v.] 1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.] [1913 Webster] There were in this… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • With might and main — Might Might, n. [AS. meaht, miht, from the root of magan to be able, E. may; akin to D. magt, OS. maht, G. macht, Icel. m[=a]ttr, Goth. mahts. [root]103. See {May}, v.] Force or power of any kind, whether of body or mind; energy or intensity of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • might and main — Synonyms and related words: amperage, armipotence, authority, beef, black power, brute force, charge, charisma, clout, cogence, cogency, compulsion, dint, drive, duress, effect, effectiveness, effectuality, effort, elbow grease, endeavor,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • with might and main — (with) might and main formal with all your effort and strength. War is something we should be working might and main to avoid …   New idioms dictionary

  • with might and main — {adv. phr.} With full strength or complete effort. * /The sailors pulled the rope with might and main./ * /John tried with all his might and main to solve the problem./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • with might and main — {adv. phr.} With full strength or complete effort. * /The sailors pulled the rope with might and main./ * /John tried with all his might and main to solve the problem./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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