break one's back
The idiom "break one's back" is often used to describe extreme effort or hard work, sometimes to the point of exhaustion.
Definition
B2General
(idiomatic, informal)To exert oneself to the point of physical exhaustion or incapacity in order to achieve something.
Example
- She broke her back to meet the deadline for the project.
- They broke their backs to ensure the event was a success.
C1General
(idiomatic)To get through the most challenging part of a task or situation.
Example
- Once we break our backs on the initial setup, the rest will be easier.
C2Medical
(literal, technical)To suffer a severe spinal injury resulting in a broken vertebra.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "break one's back":
break someone's backbreak one's neckbreak the back ofon one's backbust one's assbend over backwardsbreak the bankflat on one's backon someone's backmake one's bonesbreak a butterfly upon the wheelbust assdie on one's arsewatch one's backgo for brokefall flat on one's facebreak withsomeone's arse offbreak a sweat