Definition of Bend over backwards

1. Verb. Try very hard to please someone. "She falls over backwards when she sees her mother-in-law"

Exact synonyms: Fall Over Backwards
Generic synonyms: Act, Behave, Do

Definition of Bend over backwards

1. Verb. (idiomatic) To make a great effort; to take extraordinary care; to go to great lengths. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Bend Over Backwards

benchmarkings
benchmarks
benchpress
benchpresses
benchtop
benchtops
benchwarmer
benchwarmers
benchwork
bencyclane
bend
bend dexter
bend down
bend one's elbow
bend over
bend over backwards (current term)
bend sinister
bend somebody's ear
bend the truth
bendabilities
bendability
bendable
bendamustine
benday
bendayed
bendaying
bendays
bendazac
bendazolic acid
bended

Literary usage of Bend over backwards

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Text-book of the Embryology of Invertebrates by Eugen Korschelt, Karl Heider, Edward Laurens Mark, William McMichael Woodworth, Matilda Bernard, Martin Fountain Woodward (1895)
"The question now arises whether it is the five vessels first developed (the so-called primary tentacles) which bend over backwards, and thus correspond to ..."

2. Capital (1888)
"... of a succession of adverse reports, and bend over backwards, so to say, to make a positive recommendation. It seems that what has been standing in the ..."

3. Amateur Circus Life by Ernest Berkeley Balch, Ernest Berkeley Blach (1916)
"Hold the pupil around the waist and let him bend over backwards, placing his hands on the mat as near his feet as possible. When he can do this without ..."

4. The Civilization of Illiteracy by Mihai Nadin (1997)
"... American-made cars and supercomputers, or to open their markets to agricultural goods (except marbled beef), will bend over backwards for baseball. ..."

5. The Baker Street Bunch and the Missing Honeybees Mystery by Michael W. Paulson (2005)
""Then bend over backwards!" "You don't shoot people when they're doing that?" She grinned. ... And whatever you do, don't bend over backwards! David? ..."

6. In a Family Way by Rochelle Hollander Schwab (1995)
"Well he wasn't going to bend over backwards, Aaron decided. "If you don't want to come, then don't. But after what's happened to Chris and Mike— That's not ..."

7. Serving the American Public: Best Practices in Resolving Customer Complaints by Al Gore, Albert Gore, Jr (1997)
"They make it easy for customers to complain, even encourage complaints, and then they bend over backwards to set things right and make changes so that ..."

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