Fig.: to do something with energy and enthusiasm

The carpenter was running behind, but he went at it with hammer and tongs even during the week-end and he managed to finish the job in time

Il falegname era in ritardo con il lavoro, ma ci ha dato dentro anche durante il fine settimana ed è riuscito a consegnare il lavoro in tempo

The Boy Scouts had promised to clean up the old playground and they went at it hammer and tongs. Before you knew it, the children were spinning on the old merry-go-round again

I Boy Scouts avevano promesso di ripulire il vecchio parco giochi. Ci hanno dato dentro e in men che non si dica i bambini giravano di nuovo sulla vecchia giostra

Richard may have no skills as a golfer, but he surely goes at it hammer and tongs and plays the best he can

Riccardo non sarà dotato come golfista, ma di sicuro ce la mette tutta e gioca sempre al suo meglio

The marathon winner said: "I had such an incredible support by the crowd. I was two minutes behind the leader and everybody was shouting Õ™You can do it! Dig! Dig!Õš and I did"

Il vincitore della maratona ha dichiarato: "Il pubblico mi ha sostenuto in una maniera incredibile. Ero in ritardo di due minuti sul primo e tutti mi gridavano ՙAvanti che puoi farcela. Dacci dentro!՚ e così ho fatto"

This expression refers to the traditional work of a blacksmith: he would hold the hot iron bar with a pair of tongs and vigorously beat it into shape with a hammer