broke one's back
Strained beyond limits
To break one's back is to work extremely hard, typically at physical labor, often with the implication of exhausting or injurious effort.
I broke my back getting this place ready for the party.
The expression emphasizes grueling exertion rather than literal injury, though it evokes the physical toll of demanding work.
Someone who breaks their back for something or someone sacrifices their comfort and energy for that cause or person.
- hard workSustained strenuous effort
- bent over backwardsExerted maximal effort to please
- blood sweat and tearsMaximum physical and emotional exertion
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- working overtimeLabor beyond standard hours
fracture · injury · toil · heavy lifting · sacrifice · struggle · resilience · exhaustion · overexertion · grit · backbreaking · determination · trauma · spinal cord · paralysis · spinal surgery · vertebrae · rehabilitation
broke one's backslacked off
Reduced one's effort
loafed · took it easy · coasted · lazed around · goofed off
broke one's backshirked
Avoided obligated tasks
goldbricked · slacked · malingered · idled · bummed around
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