To bend over backwards

Learning English Conversations

BBC

Education, Language Learning

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 18 June 2012

⏱️ 3 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What are the different meanings of the phrase 'to bend over backwards'?

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This is a download from the BBC.
0:03.0	For more information and our terms of use, go to BBCworldservice.com
0:08.0	forward slash podcasts.
0:11.0	The English we speak.
0:16.0	Hello, I'm Neil.
0:19.0	I'm Helen.
0:20.0	And Neil is speaking in that rather strange voice because he's in a strange position.
0:27.0	That's right, I'm bending over backwards or trying to.
0:33.0	bending over backwards.
0:35.0	The problem is that you are not very flexible are you?
0:39.0	No.
0:40.0	Even if I bend forwards, I can hardly touch my knees, certainly not my toes.
0:47.0	Wow, look at me.
0:49.0	Wow, Helen, I had no idea you could do that. You can bend over backwards all the way to the floor.
0:57.0	Yes, anyway, maybe we should explain where we're bending over backwards?
1:03.0	Ah yes of course that's because today's phrase is
1:07.0	To bend over backwards.
1:10.0	Listen to these examples and see if you can guess what it means.
1:15.0	I would bend over backwards for you.
1:18.0	Just let me know how I can help.
1:21.0	Julia bent over backwards to make sure everything was right for their visit.
1:29.0	Did you guess the meaning of to bend over backwards? It means to go to great lengths or put in a lot of effort for someone or something.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.