Backbreaking: meaning, definitions and examples
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backbreaking
[ ˈbækˌbrɛkɪŋ ]
physical effort
The word 'backbreaking' describes a task or activity that requires an excessive amount of physical effort and is extremely tiring. It is often used to refer to manual labor or strenuous activities that can cause pain and exhaustion. For example, moving heavy objects or working for long hours under tough conditions can be termed backbreaking work. This term emphasizes the intensity and difficulty involved in the task, suggesting that it may result in physical discomfort or fatigue.
Synonyms
arduous, exhausting, grueling, laborious, strenuous.
Examples of usage
- The backbreaking work of digging trenches took all day.
- She endured backbreaking labor to finish the project on time.
- His backbreaking routine left him completely worn out by evening.
Translations
Translations of the word "backbreaking" in other languages:
🇵🇹 exaustivo
🇮🇳 कठोर
🇩🇪 anstrengend
🇮🇩 meletihkan
🇺🇦 виснажливий
🇵🇱 wyczerpujący
🇯🇵 過酷な
🇫🇷 épuisant
🇪🇸 agotador
🇹🇷 zorlayıcı
🇰🇷 힘든
🇸🇦 مرهق
🇨🇿 vyčerpávající
🇸🇰 vyčerpávajúci
🇨🇳 耗力的
🇸🇮 izčrpavajoč
🇮🇸 örðugur
🇰🇿 талғамды
🇬🇪 მძიმე
🇦🇿 çətin
🇲🇽 agotador
Etymology
The term 'backbreaking' originated from the combination of the words 'back' and 'breaking'. The word 'back' has Old English roots, derived from 'bæc', meaning the rear part of the body. The word 'break' comes from the Old English 'brecan', meaning to shatter or to cause to separate into pieces. When combined, 'backbreaking' metaphorically describes a task that is so grueling it feels as if it could literally break one's back. The expression reflects societal notions of labor and endurance, particularly in contexts involving heavy physical work. The usage of the term became more prevalent during the Industrial Revolution, as focus shifted towards the grueling conditions faced by laborers in factories and construction sites. Over time, 'backbreaking' has been adopted into everyday language to describe not only physical tasks but also the mental and emotional strain associated with extensive effort.