英语短语 "bend over backwards" 是一个常用的口语表达,核心含义是“竭尽全力;千方百计;拼命(做某事);想尽一切办法迁就/帮助他人”。
字面意思:“向后弯腰”(身体大幅度向后弯曲,是一个需要用力的动作);
引申义:通过“用力到身体变形”的比喻,强调为了达成某个目标或满足他人需求,付出极大的努力、做出超常的迁就。
该短语通常与 to do sth. 或 for sb./sth. 搭配,结构为:
bend over backwards to do sth.:竭尽全力做某事;
bend over backwards for sb./sth.:为某人/某事拼命努力/迁就。
日常场景:
I bent over backwards to help him finish the project, but he didn’t even say thank you.
(我竭尽全力帮他完成项目,可他连句谢谢都没说。)
职场场景:
Companies often bend over backwards to keep their top employees happy.
(公司通常会想尽办法让核心员工满意。)
人际关系:
She bends over backwards for her kids—she even quit her job to take care of them full-time.
(她为孩子们拼命付出——甚至辞掉工作全职照顾他们。)
负面语境:
Don’t bend over backwards to please everyone—it’s impossible and will exhaust you.
(别为了讨好所有人拼尽全力——这不可能,还会让你精疲力竭。)
go out of one's way:也表示“特意做某事”,但侧重“主动额外付出”;
bend over backwards:更强调“努力到极致、甚至牺牲自己”,程度比前者更深。
总结:这个短语突出“超常努力”,常用在描述为他人或目标付出极大代价的情境中,口语化且生动。