move heaven and earth Definition

move
verb moved, moving

tr & intr
1. To change position or make something change position or go from one place to another.

Thesaurus: go, proceed, progress, travel, traverse, walk, run, stir; Antonym: stay put.
intr
2. To make progress of any kind.

Example: move towards a political solution
chiefly intr
3. To change one's place of living, working, operating, etc. See also move house below.

Thesaurus: relocate, leave, decamp, depart, migrate, transfer, transport.
Form: move on (often)
Form: move out
Form: move away
4. To affect someone's feelings or emotions.
5. To prompt them or affect them in such a way that they do it

Example: What moved him to say that?
Thesaurus: affect, arouse, stir, stir up, influence, urge, push, activate, induce, incite, stimulate, encourage, excite.
Form: move someone to do something (usually)
tr & intr
6. To change the position of (a piece in a board game).
tr & intr
7. formal
To propose or request it formally, at a meeting, etc.
Thesaurus: propose, suggest, submit, recommend, put forward, advocate.
Form: move for something (usually)
Form: move that something
intr
8. To spend time; to associate with people.

Example: move in fashionable circles
intr
9. colloq
To take action; to become active or busy.
Example: must move on this matter straight away
intr
10. colloq
To travel or progress fast.
Example: That bike can really move
11. colloq
To hurry up.
Form: get a move on (also)
Form: get moving
tr & intr
12. colloq
To sell or be sold.
intr
13a. Said of the bowels: to be evacuated;
1b. To cause (the bowels) to evacuate.

noun

1. An act of moving the body; a movement.

Thesaurus: movement, manoeuvre.
2. An act of changing homes or premises

Example: How did your move go?
Thesaurus: transit, migration, relocation, removal.
3a. games.
An act of moving a piece on the board;
3b. games.
A particular player's turn to move a piece;
3c. games.
Any of a series of actions taken as part of an overall strategy;
Thesaurus: action, deed, ruse, stratagem, tactic, tack.
3d. games.
The rules governing how the pieces are moved.

Derivative: movable

Andsee separate entries.

Idiom: make a move

colloq
To start on one's way; to leave.

To take a step; to begin to proceed.

Idiom: move heaven and earth

To make strenuous efforts to achieve something.

Idiom: move house

To move to a new place of residence; to move one's possessions to a new home.

Idiom: on the move

Moving from place to place.

Advancing or making progress.

Etymology: 13c: from French movoir, from Latin movere.

Phrasal Verb: move in or into something or somewhere

To begin to occupy new premises.

Phrasal Verb: move in on someone

To advance towards them, especially threateningly.To take steps towards controlling them or usurping their position, etc.

Phrasal Verb: move out

To vacate premises; to leave.

Phrasal Verb: move over

To move so as to make room for someone else.