- To continue working on something or dealing with a situation, especially one that is difficult, tiring, or unpleasant, using determination and effort until it is finished.
Explanation
Origin
- Combines power (force, energy, strength) with through (indicating movement from one side or point to the other, completion).
- The imagery is of using one's strength or determination to force a way through an obstacle or period of difficulty.
- Likely emerged in the mid-to-late 20th century, possibly influenced by mechanical or computing metaphors (e.g., powering through data).
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Just gotta crank it out. (Focus on producing work quickly)
- Hunker down and finish. (Focus on focused effort)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- (Often involves expressing the difficulty: Let's fuckin' finish this thing.)
- Put your fuckin' head down and work. (Crude encouragement to focus)
Milder:
- Let's keep working.
- Let's try to finish this.
- We need to persevere.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to semi-formal.
- Common in work, study, or challenging activity contexts (like fitness).
- Generally implies a shared understanding of the difficulty and the need for determination.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Unlikely to be misunderstood. The context usually makes the meaning clear.
Examples
- I have a headache, but I'll just power through the rest of the workday.
- We only have a few hours left; let's power through and finish this report.
- Despite the setbacks, the team powered through and met the deadline.
Dialogue
Student 1: I'm so tired. I've been studying for hours.
Student 2: Me too. But the exam is tomorrow morning. We just have to power through this last chapter.
Student 1: Okay, okay. Let's just get it done. Maybe one more hour?
Student 2: Sounds like a plan. Let's power through.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Deadline looming! Time to put on some music and power through this coding session. #developer #worklife
- Instagram Story: (Picture of a messy desk and coffee cup) Late night study session. Gotta power through! #finals #student
- Forum post: Feeling burnt out but the project is almost done. Any tips to power through the final stretch?
Response Patterns
- Agreement/Shared determination: Yeah, let's do it., Okay, focus time.
- Encouragement: You can do it!, Almost there!
- Expression of difficulty: Ugh, okay, but I need coffee., It's tough, but alright.
- Questioning feasibility: Are you sure we can finish?, Maybe we should take a break?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After suggesting to power through:
- Offering support: I'll grab us some coffee., Let me know if you get stuck.
- Setting a mini-goal: Let's just get this section done.
After agreeing to power through:
- Focusing intently on the task.
- Asking for specific help: Can you handle the formatting while I write?
- Checking progress: How much further do you think?
Conversation Starter
- No.
- It's a suggestion or statement of intent during a difficult or lengthy task.
Intonation
- Often said with determination, encouragement, or sometimes weariness mixed with resolve.
- Stress typically falls on power and through. POWer THROUGH.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood and used, perhaps slightly more common among younger generations (Millennials, Gen Z) in contexts like studying or work sprints, but older generations use it too.
Regional Variations
- Common in American English. Also used and understood in other English-speaking regions.