break one’s neck: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘break one's neck’ mean?
The idiom "break one's neck" means to make an extreme effort or go to great lengths to accomplish something.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "stick one's neck out" means to take a risk or put oneself in a vulnerable position by expressing an opinion or taking action that goes against the norm or common consensus.
The idiom "knock oneself out" means to exert a lot of effort or work extremely hard. It is often used to encourage someone to do something with great enthusiasm or without holding back.
The idiom "jump through hoops" means to go to great lengths or make a considerable effort to achieve or satisfy someone's demands or expectations.
The idiom "heavy lifting" refers to the difficult or hard work needed to accomplish a task or achieve a goal.
The idiom "go to the ends of the earth" means to do everything possible or make extreme efforts to achieve or find something.
"Go to great lengths" means to put in a lot of effort or take extreme measures to achieve something.
The idiom "go the extra mile" means to put in extra effort or go beyond what is expected in order to achieve a goal or provide exceptional service.
The idiom "go out of one's way" means to make an extra effort or to do something that is not required or expected, often to help someone else or to achieve a specific goal.
The idiom "go for broke" means to take a great risk or make a bold, all-out effort in pursuit of a goal, regardless of the potential consequences or failure.
The idiom "go far" means to achieve great success or make significant progress in one's endeavors or career.
Decoding the Phrase
The idiom "break one's neck" is commonly used in both spoken and written English. It expresses a sense of urgency or intense effort in trying to achieve something. For example, someone might say "I've been working so hard, I feel like I'm breaking my neck to meet the deadline."
This idiom is informal and is used in casual conversations rather than formal or professional settings. Its origins can be traced back to the early 20th century, although the exact origin is unclear. It is likely that the phrase was derived from a literal interpretation of breaking one's neck, which would result in severe injury or death.
In a figurative sense, the idiom conveys the idea that someone is putting forth a significant amount of effort or working very hard to achieve a goal. It is often used when there is a sense of urgency or pressing need to accomplish something. For example, someone might say "I'll break my neck to get this project finished on time."
Now, let's explore how the idiom "break one's neck" is related to two other idioms: "break one's back" and "break someone's back."
The idiom "break one's back" expresses the idea of exerting oneself to the maximum extent possible. It is similar to "break one's neck" in that it conveys a sense of intense effort and urgency. However, "break one's back" suggests even greater exertion and hardship, as if one is straining or pushing oneself to the limit. For example, someone might say "I've been breaking my back to support my family."
On the other hand, the idiom "break someone's back" has a different meaning. It refers to causing someone to experience great difficulty or be overwhelmed by a task or responsibility. It implies that the person's ability to carry the burden has been pushed to its limit or broken. For example, someone might say "The additional workload really broke his back."
The idiom "break one's neck" is an English expression used to convey a sense of urgency or intense effort. It is informal and commonly used in casual conversations. Its origins can be traced back to the early 20th century, although the exact origin is uncertain. The phrase likely stems from a literal interpretation of breaking one's neck. This idiom is used in both literal and figurative senses to convey a sense of urgency and intensity in trying to accomplish something. It is related to the idioms "break one's back" and "break someone's back," which involve even greater exertion and causing someone to experience overwhelming difficulty, respectively.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "break one's neck" can be used in a sentence:
- She is always running late and will break her neck trying to catch the bus.
- He worked tirelessly to meet the deadline, practically breaking his neck to get the project done on time.
- The actor performed stunts that could have broken his neck during the intense action scenes.
The idiom "break one's neck" is used to emphasize the extreme effort or determination someone puts into doing something. It suggests going to great lengths, risking injury, or exhausting oneself to achieve a goal or complete a task.
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