1
general::
Phrase(s): put one’s back (in)to something
1. Fig. to apply great physical effort to lift or move something. • All right, you guys. Put your backs into moving this piano. • You can lift it if you put your back to it. 2. Fig. to apply a lot of mental or creative effort to doing something. (From Q.) • If we put our backs to it, we can bake twelve dozen cookies today. • The artist put his back into finishing the picture on time.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs