What does "a fuerza de" mean?

The phrase "a fuerza de" translates to "by dint of," "by force of," or "through." It is used to express that something is achieved through repeated effort, insistence, or the sustained use of something. It is always followed by a noun or an infinitive and is common in both spoken and written Spanish.

Examples

1.
A fuerza de practicar, cada vez lo haces mejor.
By dint of practising, you are getting better and better. (presente de indicativo)
2.
A fuerza de repetirlo, al final lo memorizó.
By repeating it over and over, he finally memorised it. (imperfecto de indicativo)
3.
A fuerza de insistir, consiguió una entrevista de trabajo.
By dint of insisting, she managed to get a job interview. (pretérito)
4.
A fuerza de esfuerzo, lo conseguirás tarde o temprano.
Through effort, you will achieve it sooner or later. (futuro)
5.
A fuerza de ahorrar, podría permitirse ese viaje el año que viene.
By saving up, she could afford that trip next year. (potencial simple)
6.
Es admirable que, a fuerza de trabajo, haya llegado tan lejos.
It is admirable that, through hard work, he has come so far. (presente de subjuntivo)
7.
No esperaba que, a fuerza de paciencia, lograra convencerlos.
She didn't expect that, through patience, he would manage to convince them. (imperfecto de subjuntivo)
8.
¿Has mejorado tu inglés a fuerza de ver series en versión original?
Have you improved your English by watching series in the original version? (perfecto de indicativo)
9.
Cuando la conocí, ya había aprendido a cocinar a fuerza de ver a su madre en la cocina.
When I met her, she had already learned to cook by watching her mother in the kitchen. (pluscuamperfecto de indicativo)
10.
Apenas hubieron logrado el acuerdo a fuerza de negociación, firmaron el contrato.
As soon as they had reached the agreement through negotiation, they signed the contract. (pretérito anterior — literary/formal)
11.
Para fin de año, a fuerza de constancia, habrás terminado el curso.
By the end of the year, through perseverance, you will have finished the course. (futuro perfecto)
12.
A fuerza de dedicación, habría terminado el proyecto antes del plazo.
Through dedication, I would have finished the project before the deadline. (potencial compuesto)
13.
No creo que haya aprendido a tocar la guitarra a fuerza de solo ver vídeos.
I don't think he has learned to play the guitar just by watching videos. (perfecto de subjuntivo)
14.
Si a fuerza de entrenamiento hubiera llegado en mejor forma, habría ganado la carrera.
If through training she had arrived in better shape, she would have won the race. (pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)
15.
¡A fuerza de práctica llegarás a dominarlo!
Through practice you will come to master it! (imperativo)