Chapter Habiliment to Hammer and tongs of H by Soule's Synonymes

Hamlet, n. Small village.

Hammer, v. a.

1. Forge, shape with the hammer, beat out, shape by beating.

2. Contrive, excogitate, invent, work out.

Hammer and tongs. (Colloquial expression used adverbially.) Strenuously, vigorously, earnestly, zealously, resolutely, energetically, with all one’s might, with might and main, tooth and nail, through thick and thin, through fire and water, pugnis et calcibus.