The idiom “break one's neck” is believed to have originated in the 16th century. Back then, horse racing was a very popular sport, and it was not rare for riders to break their necks in accidents. So, the idiom might have come from this situation, with its literal meaning of causing a neck injury eventually changing to mean rushing or trying too hard. This idiom is typically used in informal contexts, often in spoken language, to say that someone is working very hard or rushing to achieve something.

What is the origin of the idiom "break one's neck" and when to use it?

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to [break] {one's} neck

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Définition et signification de « break one's neck » en anglais

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