bend over backwards

[ostap77]

"What happened to Joe? He's blue."

"He's been bending over backwards to get a promotion."

"Did he get it?"

"No. They passed him by and gave it to somebody else."

Is it used correctly in the context?

 

[5jj]

"What happened to Joe? He's blue."

"He's been bending over backwards to get a promotion."

"Did he get it?"

"No. They passed him by and gave it to somebody else."

Is it used correctly in the context?

Not really. We generally bend over backwards to be hepful to somebody - or perhaps forgiving.

 

[ieltsonly]

If we read "bending over backwards" as to fulfill and reach all of the requirements set by the authorities that can offer the promotion, the expression works.

 

[Barb_D]

If we read "bending over backwards" as to fulfill and reach all of the requirements set by the authorities that can offer the promotion, the expression works.

Is that how you read that expression? It's not how I read it.

It's to make extra efforts to do something, efforts beyond what is easy or usual.

 

[bhaisahab]

Is that how you read that expression? It's not how I read it.

It's to make extra efforts to do something, efforts beyond what is easy or usual.

I agree with you about the meaning of "to bend over backwards".
I have a question for you. In your experience, do people actually talk like this? Leaving aside the appropriateness or otherwise of "bend over backwards".

"What happened to Joe? He's blue."

"He's been bending over backwards to get a promotion."

"Did he get it?"

"No. They passed him by and gave it to somebody else."

 

[Barb_D]

Does that sound natural? No.

What's up with Joe? He looks like Eeyore.
Oh, he was doing everything but pick up the boss's dry-cleaning to get that promotion.
And he didn't get it?
Nah. They gave it to someone else.

 

[Barb_D]

Or did you mean, how would I use "bend over backwards"?

How was the interview?
Oh, I didn't go.
What? Are you kidding me? I bent over backwards to get you that interview. I called in every favor I had!
God! I'm kidding. It went great and I start on Monday!

 

[bhaisahab]

Does that sound natural? No.

What's up with Joe? He looks like Eeyore.
Oh, he was doing everything but pick up the boss's dry-cleaning to get that promotion.
And he didn't get it?
Nah. They gave it to someone else.

Thanks, that's what I meant.

 

[ostap77]

Thanks, that's what I meant.

So you would not use "bend over backwards" meaning " to put in a lot of affort to get something"?

 

[bhaisahab]

So you would not use "bend over backwards" meaning " to put in a lot of affort to get something"?

I would agree with Barb_D's use of the phrase.