break one's back
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To work extremely hard, to exert oneself to the point of exhaustion: The phrase "break one's back" means to work with intense effort and dedication, often under difficult conditions, similar to the labor of a slave or someone performing very demanding physical work.
Usage
- This phrase is used to emphasize the extreme level of effort someone puts into a task, job, or project. It is often used in contexts involving physical labor, demanding work, or striving to achieve a difficult goal.
- It is typically used in informal or conversational English.
Examples
- Verb:
- She broke her back to finish the project before the deadline. (She worked extremely hard to finish the project on time.)
- They are breaking their backs in the fields under the hot sun. (They are working very hard in the fields in the hot weather.)
- I broke my back studying for that exam. (I studied with immense effort for that exam.)
Advanced Usage
- "to break one's back doing something": This structure is commonly used to specify the arduous task.
- He broke his back trying to provide for his family. (He worked himself to exhaustion to support his family.)
Variants and Related Words
- Backbreaking (adj): Describing work that is extremely hard and physically demanding.
- Digging the trench was backbreaking labor. (Digging the trench was exhausting physical work.)
Synonyms
- Slave away: To work very hard, like a slave.
- Work one's fingers to the bone: To work extremely hard.
- Toil: To work extremely hard or incessantly.
Related Phrases
- Break one's neck: To hurry or move very fast, often recklessly, to do something. (Note: This is similar but emphasizes speed and risk rather than sustained hard labor.)
- Don't break your neck getting here; just drive safely. (Don't rush dangerously to get here.)
Related Idioms
- Burn the midnight oil: To work late into the night.
- While related to hard work, this idiom focuses on working late hours rather than the extreme physical exertion implied by "break one's back".
Verb
- work very hard, like a slave