English · Work & Business
bend over backwards
/bend ˈəʊ.və ˈbæk.wədz/
[/bend ˈəʊ.və ˈbæk.wədz/]
try very hard to help
Intermediatephrase
Definition
To make a great effort to help or please someone.
Example
The hotel staff bent over backwards to make our stay comfortable after the flight was delayed.
The hotel staff bent over backwards to make our stay comfortable after the flight was delayed.
Etymology
A 20th-century phrase using the image of an almost impossible backward bend to show extreme effort.
How & Where It’s Used
Common for praising someone's exceptional helpfulness.