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REFERENCE

break someone's back

idiom
Meaning

Alternative form of break the back of (overburden).


Examples
SIMPLE

Working two jobs is starting to break my back.

CONTEXTUAL

The heavy workload is beginning to break his back, so he needs to ask for help.

COMPLEX

The constant pressure of the project threatened to break her back, forcing her to delegate tasks to the rest of the team.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all bedlam breaks loose

    The situation becomes chaotic or characterized by conflict or rage.

  2. 02

    all hell breaks loose

    The situation becomes chaotic or characterized by conflict or rage.

  3. 03

    all the way to Egery and back

    The long way; a roundabout route; a long distance to travel.

  4. 04

    another nail in someone's coffin

    An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.

  5. 05

    answer someone's prayers

    To be or do exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  6. 06

    answer to someone's prayers

    Exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  7. 07

    apple of someone's eye

    The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.

  8. 08

    back down

    To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously had, or has planned to have.

Last updated July 12, 2026