English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Break one’s back
Meaning
The idiom "break one’s back" means to do something really hard or difficult, usually something that requires a lot of effort or labor. It can also mean to work extremely hard, often to the point of exhaustion.
Usage
- After working for 12 hours straight, he finally finished the project and could hardly break his back.
- She broke her back cleaning the house all day.
- The construction workers broke their backs lifting heavy materials.
- He broke his back playing football in high school.
- The marathon runners broke their backs running for several hours without rest.
Roots and History
The exact origin of the idiom "break one’s back" is not entirely clear, but it has been in use since at least the 16th century. One theory suggests that the phrase comes from the hard work of farmers who would often bend over their backs while working on a farm. Another theory suggests that it comes from the difficulty of carrying heavy loads or doing manual labor. Over time, the idiom has come to be used more broadly to refer to any task or activity that requires a lot of effort or labor.
Synonyms in English
- Struggle
- Labor
- Effort
- Hard work
- Tough work
Synonyms in other languages
- 劳力 (Labor) - Japanese
- 艰苦 (Hard work) - Chinese
- Trabajo duro (Difficult work) - Spanish
- Arbeit (Work) - German
- การเมืององาน (Daily labor) - Thai