Idiom idiom
no pain no gain
Meaning
You have to work for what you want
Examples
“I exercise every morning because I know: no pain, no gain.”
“My muscles are sore after the gym, but my coach says no pain no gain.”
“Although the long hours of studying were exhausting, he reminded himself that there is no pain no gain when pursuing a medical degree.”
Origin
first recorded 20th c.
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.
Last updated June 7, 2026