put one's back into

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

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put 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)

1. (idiomatic) Synonym of strive: to apply oneself.

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