break one's back
Work extremely hard
To break one's back is to work extremely hard, often to the point of exhaustion: She broke her back getting the project done on time.
The phrase suggests grueling physical or mental effort, implying strain that pushes someone to their limits.
Sometimes used to emphasize thankless labor: I break my back for this company and get nothing in return.
- burn the candle at both endsExhaust through excess activity
- go the extra mileSurpass what's asked
- bend over backwardsTry unusually hard to please
- toilStrenuous, prolonged effort
- slave awayWork extremely hard
perseverance · grind · nose to the grindstone · dedication · sacrifice · tenacity · paralysis · grit · sweat · endurance · nerve damage · resolve · chronic pain · work one's fingers to the bone · rehabilitation · pull out all the stops · strain · commitment
break one's backtake it easy
Advice to relax
slack off · coast · loaf · phone it in · idle
break one's backshirk
Evade one's obligations
goof off · goldbricking · malingering · freeload · skive
break one's backtake one's time
Act without haste
relax · kick back · ease up · put one's feet up · putter around
break, back, breaks, broken, breaking, breaker, breakers, breakage, unbroken