Idiom
No pain, no gain
No pain, no gain means you have to work hard, suffer or make sacrifices to achieve something worthwhile.
How people use it
The saying is popular in fitness and sports, but people use it for study, work, saving money and learning skills too. It is informal and motivational, and often said with a smile when something is hard. Doctors and trainers warn against taking it literally in exercise, since sharp pain can be a sign of injury. It is usually written with a comma: "No pain, no gain." The idea is effort, not real suffering for its own sake.
Examples
- My legs ache after training, but no pain, no gain.
- Learning the violin takes hours of practice, and my teacher always says no pain, no gain.
- He skipped the party to study, telling himself no pain, no gain.
Where it comes from
The idea is old. Similar sayings appear in English in the 1500s and 1600s, and the poet Robert Herrick wrote a short poem titled "No Paines, No Gaines" in 1648. The short rhyming version became especially famous in the 1980s through workout videos and gym culture, which is why many people link it with exercise today.
Check yourself
1. What does no pain, no gain mean?
Answer: Success needs hard work or sacrifice. The saying is about effort, not about getting hurt.
2. Which sentence uses the saying correctly?
Answer: The training plan is brutal, but no pain, no gain.. The speaker accepts hard work to reach a goal.
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