What does this saying mean

[Alexcharlesc]

What does We'll give you our shirt, and the back to go with it mean?

[Clanad]

Means being extremely generous. Original saying would be "give you the shirt off my back", this saying will add my back if you don't have one...

[Quizmonster]

I think the 'back' element here suggests that - in addition to offering aid in the form of money, perhaps - the person is saying he'll actually do some work in order to make the aid effective. That is, he is prepared to "put his back into it".

It's the sort of phrase one might hear in connection with the relief effort for survivors of the tsunami disaster. Someone might be suggesting that his organisation is not just donating finance but will actually go there and help rebuild schools etc with their own hands.