The sailors pulled the rope with might and main.
John tried with all his might and main to solve the problem.
Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". Оригинал: A.Маккей, М.Т.Боткер, Дж.И.Гейтс. 1997.
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
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
with might and main — with all one s strength or power. → might … English new terms dictionary
with might and main — with all the power, with all force … English contemporary 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
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
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.… … Wiktionary
