breakneck


Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

breakneck

1. Extremely, often excessively, fast. If he can maintain that breakneck pace, I think he's going to win the race! You don't have to drive at such a breakneck speed—it's OK if we're a few minutes late.
2. Very extreme or dangerous. I'm not surprised that the train derailed at that spot where the tracks make a breakneck turn.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

break one's back

Also, break one's neck. Make a great effort, work very hard. For example, I've been breaking my back over this problem for the past week, or Don't break your neck to get there; we'll wait for you. Both versions of this expression, polite equivalents of break one's ass, transfer the literal fracture of one's back or neck to figurative exertion. However, break one's neck has the secondary connotation of proceeding with reckless speed, a sense also conveyed by the term breakneck pace. Originally this idiom alluded to literally breaking one's neck by rushing heedlessly along, but it has been used figuratively for the past 300 years. Also see break the back of.
See also: back, break
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
See also:
References in periodicals archive ?
SATURDAY Breakneck Comedy, Blue Lamp, Aberdeen Starts 8pm.
LAUGHS; Don't miss the best stand-up comedy on offer this week
"So far in 2005, 13,599 businesses have failed - 1,423 (11.7 per cent) more than during the same period in 2004." Richard Lloyd, Managing Director of Experian's Business Information division, said: "Business insolvencies are increasing at breakneck speed and the importance of good credit management procedures has never been so business critical.
Business failures rise at 'breakneck speed
The US was the most popular breakneck break last year, with Britons taking advantage of the weak US dollar to make trips to destinations such as New York and Los Angeles.
Far flung short breaks on rise
No need to waste time explaining the intricacies of a very traditional thriller which skillfully builds tension and gradually increases the pace to breakneck speed.
KEVIN O'SULLIVAN AT THE MOVIES: OUT OF TIME Cert: 12A, 114 mins
The swirling, swooping curves and sudden, jerky thrusts of the kaleidoscopic Moments Passing allowed a dozen dancers to explore, in a frenzy of often breakneck elegance, the kind of romance that is only possible in the lush and dreamy landscape of a choreographer's imagination.
Ballet Austin
Inmany ways it brings us more of the same, spoofing the worldo fT V, film and popular culture at breakneck speed but ,fortunately, superb mimic.
The Kevin Bishop Show [...]; TV
The dark and brooding drama continues at a breakneck pace and viewers may finally start getting the answers they've been waiting for.
PICK OF THE DAY
Race on roads across America, ram cars and other trucks, negotiate tight burns and cliff faces at breakneck speed, all while trying to get cargo safely from A to B.
Kelly's i: 18 WHEELER: AMERICAN PRO TRUCKER
CRWDSPCR (computerspeak for Crowd Spacer or Crowds Pacer, the choreographer notes) features quirky coordinations at breakneck speed.
Merce Cunningham Dance Company
The 34-year-old put several clips on the YouTube site showing him driving at breakneck speeds and doing stunts.
You Tube biker rap
New single 18 stood out and the song 9 with its breakneck pace had the crowd jumping up and down.
FUTURES TENT; THE REVIEWS 2006
To Prada's regular clientele, a sea breeze usually means a cocktail that is downed in flashy bars and clubs - not breakneck antics on the ocean wave.
Height of fashion
They have to turn up at accident scenes and work at breakneck speed - so they are already under extreme pressure.
sunday mail OPINION: Stop 999 thugs
With the venue crammed to the rafters, this was full-on rock as Yoshiko Fujiyama on guitar and vocals, Yoshiko Yamaguchi on bass and Sachiko Fujiyama on drums played their songs at breakneck speed.
The Razz: Live reviews: 5,6,7,8's Liquid Room, Edinburgh; Japanese trio's blistering show has their fans yelling for more
TV and radio star Jono Coleman has been celebrating New Year Down Under in a breakneck style.
Matthew Wright's Column: DJ Jono has whizz round Oz
Idioms browser ?
Full browser ?