break someone's back — meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  globalneutralformal
  • To cause a severe injury to another person's spine, potentially resulting in paralysis or death.

  Examples

  Beta

  • The construction accident was severe; the worker broke someone’s back when the heavy beam fell.

    The construction accident was severe; the worker broke someone’s back when the heavy beam fell.

  • Doctors confirmed that the victim had broken his back in the fall from the ladder.

    Doctors confirmed that the victim had broken his back in the fall from the ladder.

  • She was injured in the car crash and broke another person's back while trying to protect them.

    She was injured in the car crash and broke another person's back while trying to protect them.

  • Breaking someone's back in such an accident usually requires immediate surgical intervention.

    Breaking someone's back in such an accident usually requires immediate surgical intervention.

• 2.

  globalinformal
  • To burden or overwork someone so severely that their strength or ability is seriously impaired; to crush someone's capacity to cope.

  Examples

  Beta

  • The manager broke his team's back with unrealistic deadlines and endless overtime demands.

    The manager broke his team's back with unrealistic deadlines and endless overtime demands.

  • Don’t break your back trying to finish everything alone; ask for help before it’s too late.

    Don’t break your back trying to finish everything alone; ask for help before it’s too late.

  • They felt their backs were broken by the overwhelming workload during the holiday season.

    They felt their backs were broken by the overwhelming workload during the holiday season.