dan,
effort idioms
pull your weight = do your fair share of the work
get down to work = Stop relaxing, focus on important task
work your fingers to the bone = work very hard
spare no effort to do something = to work as hard as possible to achieve something
burn the candle at both ends = work day and night at something
go the extra mile = do more than is expected of you
an all-out effort = a very good and thorough effort
work your butt (ass) off = work very very hard
put your shoulder to the wheel (or to the plow) = work hard
put your back into it = physically work very hard at something