To make a great effort to accommodate someone or to achieve something, often going beyond what is reasonable or expected.
When do you use "Bend over backwards"?
Use this phrase when describing situations where someone is going out of their way or making significant efforts to help someone else or to meet demands, especially when those efforts seem excessive or unnecessary.
"Bend over backwards" Usage Examples
She bent over backwards to ensure that her guests had everything they needed during the party.
The manager bent over backwards to accommodate the client's last-minute requests.
He bent over backwards to make sure his children were happy, even sacrificing his own free time.
The teacher bent over backwards to help her struggling students succeed in their exams.
In order to maintain a good relationship, he bent over backwards to avoid any conflicts.
"Bend over backwards" Explained
The phrase 'bend over backwards' suggests a physical action of contorting one's body in a way that is difficult or uncomfortable, symbolizing the extent to which someone is willing to go to please another person or to achieve a goal. The idiom likely originated from the idea that bending one's body backward is a challenging and exaggerated physical feat, thus representing extreme effort or sacrifice in a non-literal sense.