Idiom: To bend over backwards

[Chelsea]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #145 "Short Idioms Exam", question 6

He bent over ......... to please his boss but the manager was never satisfied.

(a) forward
(b) backwards
(c) both ways
(d) sideways

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #145 "Short Idioms Exam", answer 6

He bent over backwards to please his boss but the manager was never satisfied.

Correct answer: (b) backwards
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Please explain this idiom. I can't get it

Chelsea

[Linda]

This idiom means: when a person 'bends over backwards' for someone else, that person is trying extremely hard to please or help someone else. You can remember this idiom if you think about the action of bending over backwards. It's not an easy thing to do and repeatedly trying to please or help someone else is not easy either.
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[Mister Micawber]

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'To bend over backwards' = to try very hard, to make a maximum effort. I find it very difficult to bend over backwards, don't you?
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
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