Related Clues:

• Wield cross held in upturned palm perhaps
• Strain river, right?
• Proficient, but with no power to wield
• Apply, as elbow grease
• Make good use of maestro when piano's unavailable
• Use final bits of underwater equipment beneath river
• Give one's all with
• Brandish, as a sword of kind magic (the kind of sword that makes wishes come true and doesn't hurt)
• Apply, as energy
• Use, as force
• Exercise influence to remove bolt from letter box
• Apply, as effort
• Use, as great effort
• Put forth vigorously
• Handle an old wit, the last to be promoted