with (also in) mood and main: fervently, in earnest. Also with main and mood, in mood and might. Cf. main, n.1 phrases 1, might, n.1 phrases 1. Obs…

Active physical strength as an attribute or quality of living things; active force or power… Frequently in Middle English verse in the adverbial…

withor by (all one's) might and main and variants (now chiefly literary or rhetorical): = with all one's might at phrases 3; also withor by main and…

†with (one's) force: with energy, with exertion of one's strength. with all one's force: putting forth all one's strength.

like anything: to a great or extraordinary degree; very much, fast, well, etc. Formerly also †like to anything.

hammer and tongs (colloquial): with might and main (like a blacksmith showering his blows on the iron taken with the tongs from the forge-fire). ha…

Phrases. (Scottish) like stour: very swiftly or vigorously. to blow, cast, throw stour in one's eyes: figurative (cf. dust, n.1 4). to kick up, make…

(in) double tides, ? as if taking advantage of both the tides in one day; esp. to work double tides, to work as hard as possible; so to roar, spin,et…

slang. blazes: plural referring to the flames of hell, used in several forcible expressions, as blue blazes, the blazes!, like blazes: furiously…

like winking: in a flash, in a twinkling, very rapidly or suddenly; also, with vigour or persistency, ‘like one o'clock’, ‘like anything’. So, as…

Originally Nautical. with a will: with determination, resolutely, vigorously, energetically.

Only in slang phrase like winky, ‘like winking’.

U.S. like all possessed: with great force, vehemence, energy, or spirit. Now rare.

Originally U.S. On a large scale, intensively; (in extended use) enthusiastically; with great commitment or display; (in more weakened use) to a…

In phrases child,or man, of sin; as black,or ugly, as sin. Also like (or worse than) sin: vehemently, intensely, vigorously. Cf. like the devil at…

full swing (adverbial phr.): at full speed; with the utmost vigour or energy.

colloquial. A brave or plucky fellow; a person of great energy or endurance: usually in like a Trojan.

like one o'clock: vigorously, quickly; excellently; enthusiastically.

like sixty, with great force or vigour; at a great rate. colloquial or slang. (Cf. forty, adj. b.)

Used indefinitely to express a large number. like forty (U.S. colloquial): with immense force or vigour, ‘like anything’.

like wildfire: with immense rapidity and effect; very swiftly and forcibly: usually with run, spread, etc.; hence occasionally gen. forcibly…

Phrases, as †to make one boot serve for either leg (see quot.); the boot is on the other leg: the case is altered, the responsibility is on the…

like blue murder: (a) with great strength, ferocity, vehemence, noise, etc.; (b) at a very fast pace, at top speed (now rare).

In phrases descriptive of the working of a steam-engine, esp. of a locomotive; often used figuratively; e.g. (at) full (half,etc.) steam; with full…

like stink, furiously, intensely. Cf. like, adv. 1c. colloquial.

colloquial (originally Australian). like one thing: = like anything at anything, pron. n.adv. phrases 6.

like a demon: very energetically or assiduously; in a very skilful or thorough way; with great endurance. Frequently in to work like a demon.

figurative and in figurative context. up a storm adverbial phrase, vehemently, violently, with enthusiasm or energy. U.S. colloquial.