Break-one-s-back
Also, break one’s neck . Make a great effort, work very hard. For example, I’ve been breaking my back over this problem for the past week , or Don’t break your neck to get there; we’ll wait for you . Both versions of this expression, polite equivalents of break one’s ass , transfer the literal fracture of one’s back or neck to figurative exertion. However, break one’s neck has the secondary connotation of proceeding with reckless speed, a sense also conveyed by the term breakneck pace . Originally this idiom alluded to literally breaking one’s neck by rushing heedlessly along, but it has been used figuratively for the past 300 years. Also see break the back of
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- Break-one-s-balls
break one’s balls see under break one’s ass
- Break-one-s-fall
Interrupt a tumble or descent, as in It’s a long way down over this cliff, with nothing to break your fall. [ Mid-1800s ]
- Break-one-s-neck
the part of the body of an animal or human being that connects the head and the trunk. the part of a garment encircling, partly covering, or closest to the neck; neckline. the length of the neck of a horse or other animal as a measure in racing. the slender part near the top of […]
- Break-one-s-word
Violate or fail to observe a promise or contract one has made. For example, You can trust him implicitly; I’ve never known him to break his word. [ c. a.d. 1000 ]
- Break--out
to smash, split, or divide into parts violently; reduce to pieces or fragments: He broke a vase. to infringe, ignore, or act contrary to (a law, rule, promise, etc.): She broke her promise. to dissolve or annul (often followed by off): to break off friendly relations with another country. to fracture a bone of (some […]