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to break one's neck
01
to put in a great deal of effort to accomplish something
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "break one's neck" and when to use it?
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.
Example
He was breaking his neck to get to the airport on time.
The company is breaking its neck to compete with the new market entrants.
The politician was breaking his neck to win the election.
I'm breaking my neck to finish this project before the deadline.
She's been breaking her neck trying to get her business off the ground.
