bending over backwards
Trying too hard
Bending over backwards means making an extraordinary effort to accommodate or please someone, often beyond what's reasonable or expected.
The phrase evokes physical contortion—straining into an unnatural position—to suggest going far out of one's way: She's bending over backwards to make the new employee feel welcome.
Sometimes carries a note of excessive or unreciprocated effort: I've been bending over backwards for them and they don't even notice.
- striveMake sustained effort
- acrobaticsSkilled physical feats
- helpfulnessDisposition toward aiding others
- contortionistOne who bends extremely
- archingBending in a curve
assistance · gymnastics · flexibility · effort · making an effort · jumping through hoops · dedication · stretch · selflessness · struggling · endeavoring · extend · going the extra mile · above and beyond · pulling out all the stops · commitment · people-pleasing · moving heaven and earth
- overexertionoverwork, burnout, overtraining, straining, overdrive
- sycophancyfawning, toadying, groveling, kowtowing, brown-nosing
bending over backwardsminimal effort
Smallest exertion needed
phoning it in · going through the motions · mailing it in · couldn't care less · slacking off
bending over backwardsstonewalling
Deliberately refusing to respond
dragging one's feet · digging in one's heels · standing in the way · playing hardball
bending over backwardsstonewalling
Deliberately refusing to respond
obstructing · digging in one's heels · turning a deaf ear · cold-shouldering · brushing off
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