What it means
A very British push to stop being timid and put some real force or effort into it. You say it when someone's doing a job too gently, too slowly, or with that half-arsed energy that gets nowhere. Could be pulling harder, driving faster, singing louder, or just getting properly stuck in instead of faffing about.
Usage examples
"Come on, mate, the mower’s spluttering again. Give it some welly, yank the cord proper, and stop faffing or we’ll be here all day"
"The hill is steep, so give it some welly in second gear or the old van will stall halfway up."
"Come on, give it some welly on that last chorus, the back row needs to hear you too."
"That jar lid’s not coming off because you’re tickling it, give it some welly and twist."
"We’re losing in the second half, lads, give it some welly and get stuck in."
Where it comes from
Welly comes from Wellington boot, the sturdy rubber boot tied to mud, farms, and a good hard stomp. From that boot image, give it some welly grew into a British way of saying put real force behind it. It started with literal physical oomph and spread into everyday talk for effort and gusto.
Other ways to say it
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