How do you say “Bend over backwards” in French?

Both expressions rely on the imagery of physical gymnastics to convey extreme, accommodating effort. While English speakers imagine arching their spine backward to the point of discomfort, French speakers imagine folding themselves in four like an impossible sheet of origami. Both idioms imply that the speaker is pushing themselves far beyond reasonable limits, typically for the benefit of another person.

In French, 'se plier en quatre' is overwhelmingly paired with the preposition 'pour' ('pour quelqu'un' or 'pour faire quelque chose'). It fits neatly across informal and neutral registers, making it appropriate in both casual workplace conversations and personal relationships.