ENGLISH
REFERENCE

no pain no gain

idiom
Meaning

You have to work for what you want


Origin

first recorded 20th c.

Popularised by Jane Fonda's 1982 workout videos; the sentiment is far older — Benjamin Franklin wrote 'there are no gains, without pains' (1745), echoing the 2nd-century Hebrew text Pirkei Avot.

Examples
SIMPLE

I exercise every morning because I know: no pain, no gain.

CONTEXTUAL

My muscles are sore after the gym, but my coach says no pain no gain.

COMPLEX

Although the long hours of studying were exhausting, he reminded himself that there is no pain no gain when pursuing a medical degree.

Last updated June 7, 2026