bend over backwards
English
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Verb
editbend over backwards (third-person singular simple present bends over backwards, present participle bending over backwards, simple past and past participle bent over backwards)
- (idiomatic, informal) To make a great effort; to take extraordinary care; to go to great lengths.
- Synonym: (UK) lean over backwards
- They bent over backwards to make sure everything was just right for the visit.
- 2011 July 27, Jon Henley, “Rupert Murdoch and the battle of Wapping: 25 years on”, in The Guardian[1], →ISSN:
- The police were plainly on his side. Lawyers helped, too, with a letter he used to justify his strategy. And of course the government of the day bent over backwards to ensure nothing would stand in the way of the media baron's ambitions.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bend over, backwards.
Synonyms
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editmake a great effort
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References
edit- “bend over backwards”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.