Crossword Genius

Give it everything reversing one vessel towards another (4,1,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bust a gut

'give it everything' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for bust a gut that I've seen before include "Give it everything" , "Work extra hard to achieve something" , "Really work extra hard" , "Strain" , "Make a strenuous effort" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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