Explore how to comfortably use and pronounce the idiom “Bend Over Backwards” in conversational English. Discover which words or syllables to reduce, how to link them together, and the melodic shape of the phrase.
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Video Transcript:
Today I’m going to go over the pronunciation for the idiom to bend over backwards. This means to do as much as you possibly can to get your desired results. Perhaps more than what would be expected. For example, let’s say I’m trying to hire a new person to come to my firm and I’ll do whatever it takes to get him or her to commit. I might say, I’ll bend over backwards to get you here. Or, for example, let’s say my mother in law was visiting last weekend. I might say, I bent over backwards to make her happy.
It begins with the B consonant sound. That is voiced, bb, so your vocal cords are making noise. Then the ‘eh’ as in ‘bed’ vowel sound [ε]: be- be-. Nn, tongue moves up into position for the N. Ben-d. Here you would either have the D or the T consonant sound, depending on if you’re speaking present/future, or past. Bend/bent. Over begins with the ‘oh’ as in ‘no’ diphthong [oʊ]. O – vv, vv, then the V consonant sound, where the bottom lip raises to lightly touch the bottom of the top front teeth. Ov, vv, and you make a sound with the vocal cords. Over. You then have the schwa sound [ə], unaccented, with the R consonant sound [ɹ], over. Backwards begins, again, with the B sound, bb, then the ‘aa’ as in ‘bat’ vowel [æ]. Ba-, ba- kk. The K consonant sound, where the tongue goes up and touches in the back, kk, releasing to make that sound. Back, back, -wards. The W consonant sound, where the lips form a tight circle, www, and the schwa sound with the R consonant sound war-, war- ds. The D consonant sound followed by the Z consonant sound, both voiced: dz, dz. Backwards. To bend over backwards.
Hear the difference immediately.
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