move heaven and earth

Idioms

Exert the utmost effort, as in I'd move heaven and earth to get an apartment here. This hyperbolic expression was first recorded in 1792.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

US President Joe Biden vowed to "move heaven and earth" to help Baltimore recover from a deadly bridge collapse that blocked the city's port.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2024

Chollet said that if he is confirmed, he “will move heaven and earth to get the Ukrainians what they need when they need it.”

From Seattle Times • Sep. 28, 2023

“This coalition of like-minded countries continues to move heaven and earth to get Ukraine what it needs right now,” Mr. Austin said Tuesday.

From Washington Times • Sep. 19, 2023

The text messages being put into evidence tell the heartbreaking story of a woman trying to escape a bad marriage, and of her loyal friends who will move heaven and earth to help her.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2023

“People have gone to war over a beautiful woman. Why not move heaven and earth for one?”

From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023