put one's back into

verb

Synonym of strive: to apply oneself.

“When he puts his back into the work, he gets quite a lot done.”

Similar
strive
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Meanings

verbput one's back into (third-person singular simple present puts one's back into, present participle putting one's back into, simple past and past participle put one's back into)

present singular third person puts one's back into · participle present putting one's back into

  1. idiomaticSynonym of strive: to apply oneself.

    When he puts his back into the work, he gets quite a lot done.

    Synonyms: strive

Synonyms & antonyms

verbSynonym of strive: to apply oneself.

Similar
strive
Also see
strivetry

Origin

From the literal action of straining with one's whole body to push a heavy object. Compare put one's shoulder to the wheel.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

put one's back into. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/put%20one's%20back%20into

MLA

“put one's back into.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/put%20one's%20back%20into. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “put one's back into,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/put%20one's%20back%20into.

Source: put one's back into on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.