roll up one's sleeves

roll up (one's) sleeves

To do or get ready to do something difficult, intense, or demanding. Literally rolling up one's sleeves is often done before performing some kind of work. Well, we have a long day ahead, so let's roll up our sleeves and start! I know you're disappointed, but you need to roll up your sleeves and redouble your efforts.See also: roll, sleeve, up

roll up one's sleeves

Prepare to work, as in When he saw how much snow had fallen he simply rolled up his sleeves and went to find the shovel . This expression, alluding to turning one's sleeves upward to avoid getting them wet or dirty, is used both literally and more loosely, as in the example here. See also: roll, sleeve, up