Hammer and tongs

Origin of: Hammer and tongs

Hammer and tongs

To go at something hammer and tongs is to go at it with the utmost exuberance, zest or enthusiasm. The figurative use dates from the late 17th/early 18th century and derives from the blacksmith’s forge where the blacksmith would typically use his hammer and tongs with great vigour, showering lusty blows while the metal was red-hot.