Definition & Meaning of "Put shoulder to the wheel"

put / keep one's shoulder to the wheel

/pˌʊt kˈiːp sˈɛt hav wˈɒnz ʃˈəʊldə tə ðə wˈiːl/

/pˌʊt kˈiːp sˈɛt hæv wˈʌnz ʃˈoʊldɚ tə ðə wˈiːl/

to put / keep one's shoulder to the wheel

PHRASE

to start something in a very energetic and determined manner

to [put|keep|set|have] {one's} [shoulder] to the wheel definition and meaning

What is the origin of the idiom "put one's shoulder to the wheel" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "put one's shoulder to the wheel" can be traced back to a literal practice in the early days of industrialization. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the phrase referred to the act of physically pushing or turning a wheel, often in the context of machinery or transportation.