back

Universal Words noun, adjective, adverb, verb noun part of body 1 the part of the human body that is on the opposite side to the chest, between the neck and the tops of the legs; the part of an animal's body that CORRESPONDS to this: Do you sleep on your back or your front? * He stood with his back to the door. * They had their hands tied behind their backs. * They set off with the wind at their backs (= behind them). * I pulled (= injured the muscles in) my back playing squash. * back pain * a back massage * A small boy rode on the elephant's back. seealsoBAREBACK, HORSEBACK 2 the row of bones in the middle of the back SYNBACKBONE, SPINE: She broke her back in a riding accident. * He put his back out (= DISLOCATED sth in his back) lifting the crates. part furthest from front 3 [usuallysing.] ~ (of sth) the part or area of sth that is furthest from the front: We could only get seats at the back (= of the room). * I found some old photos at the back of the drawer. * He was shot in the back of the knee. * (BrE) There's room for three people in the back. * (AmE) There's room for three people in back. * The house has three bedrooms at the front and two at the back. * (BrE) If you'd like to come round the back (= to the area behind the house), I'll show you the garden. seealsoHARDBACK, PAPERBACK, SHORTBACKANDSIDES of piece of paper 4 [usuallysing.] ~ (of sth) the part of a piece of paper, etc. that is on the opposite side to the one that has information or the most important information on it: Write your name on the back of the cheque. of book 5 [usuallysing.] ~ (of sth) the last few pages of a book, etc: The television guide is at the back of the paper. of chair 6 the part of a chair, etc. against which you lean your back -backed 7 (in adjectives) used to describe furniture which has the type of back mentioned: a high-backed sofa in sport 8 (in football, hockey, etc.) a player whose main role is to defend their team's goal compareFORWARDn. seealsoFULLBACK, HALFBACK IDIOMS at / in the back of your mind if a thought, etc. is at the back of your mind, you are aware of it but it is not what you are mainly thinking about: At the back of my mind was a small, warning voice, telling me it was wrong. the back of beyond (informal) a place that is a long way from other houses, towns, etc: We stayed in some farmhouse in the back of beyond. back to back 1 if two people stand back to back, they stand with their backs facing or touching each other seealsoBACK-TO-BACK 2 if two or more things happen back to back, they happen one after the other: The team had to play three games back to back. back to front (BrE) (AmE backwards) if you put on a piece of clothing back to front, you make a mistake and put the back where the front should be: I think you've got that sweater on back to front. compareinside out at INSIDEn. be glad, etc. to see the back of sb/sth (informal, especially BrE) to be happy that you will not have to deal with or see sb/sth again because you do not like them: Was I pleased to see the back of her! * I can't wait to see the back of that old car. behind sb's back without sb's knowledge or permission: Have you been talking about me behind my back? * They went ahead and sold it behind my back. compareto sb's face at FACEn. be on sb's back (informal) to keep asking or telling sb to do sth that they do not want to do, in a way that they find annoying: He's still on my back about that money I borrowed. break the back of sth to finish the largest or most important part of a task: I want to break the back of this translation before the weekend. get / put sb's back up (informal) to annoy sb: That sort of attitude really gets my back up! get off sb's back (informal) to stop annoying sb, for example by criticizing them, or asking them to do sth: Just get off my back, will you! have your back to the wall (informal) to be in a difficult situation in which you are forced to do sth but are unable to make the choices that you would like: We had our backs to the wall with no choice but to sell. off the back of a lorry (BrE, informal, humorous) goods that fell off the back of a lorry were probably stolen. People say or accept that they came 'off the back of a lorry' to avoid saying or asking where they really came from. on the back of sth as a result of an achievement or a success: The profits growth came on the back of a 26 per cent rise in sales. (flat) on your back (informal) in bed because you are ill/sick: She's been flat on her back for over a week now. * (figurative) The UK market was flat on its back (= business was very bad). put your back into sth to use a lot of effort and energy on a particular task turn your back to turn so that you are facing in the opposite direction turn your back on sb/sth 1 to move so that you are standing or sitting with your back facing sb/sth: When on stage, try not to turn your back on the audience. 2 to reject sb/sth that you have previously been connected with: She turned her back on them when they needed her. * Some newspapers have turned their backs on discussion and argument. moreatEYEn., KNOWv., PATn., PATv., PUSHv., ROD, SCRATCHv., SHIRT, STABn., STABv., STRAW, WATERn. adjective [onlybeforenoun] away from front 1 situated behind or at the back of sth: the back door * We were sitting in the back row. * back teeth * a back room (= one at the back of a building) * the back page of a newspaper compareFRONTadj. from past 2 of or from a past time: a back number of the magazine owed 3 owed for a time in the past: back pay / taxes / rent IDIOMS by / through the back door in an unfair or indirect way: He used his friends to help him get into the civil service by the back door. seealsoBACK-DOOR on the back burner (informal) (of an idea, a plan, etc.) left for the present time, to be done or considered later compareon the front burner at FRONTadj. adverb HELPNOTE For the special uses of back in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example pay sb back is in the phrasal verb section at pay. away from front 1 away from the front or centre; behind you: I stepped back to let them pass. * Sit back and relax. * You've combed your hair back. * He turned and looked back. * She fell back towards the end of the race. OPPFORWARD at a distance 2 at a distance away from sth: The barriers failed to keep the crowds back. * Stand back and give me some room. under control 3 under control; prevented from being expressed or coming out: He could no longer hold back his tears. as before 4 to or into the place, condition, situation or activity where sb/sth was before: Put the book back on the shelf. * Please give me my ball back. * He'll be back (= will return) on Monday. * It takes me an hour to walk there and back. * Could you go back to the beginning of the story? * She woke up briefly and then went back to sleep. * We were right back where we started, only this time without any money. in past 5 in or into the past; ago: The village has a history going back to the Middle Ages. * She left back in November. * That was a few years back. at a previous place 6 at a place previously left or mentioned: We should have turned left five kilometres back. * Back at home, her parents were worried. * I can't wait to get back home. in return 7 in return or reply: If he kicks me, I'll kick him back. * Could you call back later, please? IDIOMS back and forth from one place to another and back again repeatedly: ferries sailing back and forth between the island and the mainland back of sth (AmE, informal) behind sth: the houses back of the church moreatEARTHn. verb move backwards 1 [+adv./prep.] to move or make sth move backwards: [V] He backed against the wall, terrified. * to back out of a parking space * [VN] If you can't drive in forwards, try backing it in. compareREVERSE support 2 [VN] to give help or support to sb/sth: Her parents backed her in her choice of career. * Doctors have backed plans to raise the tax on cigarettes. * The programme of economic reform is backed (= supported financially) by foreign aid. * a United Nations-backed peace plan bet money 3 [VN] to bet money on a horse in a race, a team in a competition, etc: I backed the winner and won fifty pounds. music 4 [VN] to play or sing music that supports the main singer or instrument seealsoBACKING cover back 5 [VN] ~ sth (with sth) [usuallypassive] to cover the back of sth in order to support or protect it be behind 6 [VN] [usuallypassive] (BrE) to be situated behind sth: The house is backed by fields. IDIOMS back the wrong horse (BrE) to support sb/sth that is not successful PHRASALVERBS back away (from sb/sth) to move away backwards from sth that is frightening or unpleasant; to avoid doing sth that is unpleasant back down (on / from sth) (AmE also back off) to take back a demand, an opinion, etc. that other people are strongly opposed to; to admit defeat: She refused to back down on a point of principle. back off (from sth) to move away from sb, especially in order to stop threatening or annoying them or to avoid a difficult situation: The government has backed off from a fundamental reform of the system. * Back off! There's no need to yell at me. back onto sth (BrE) (of a building) to have sth directly behind it: Our house backs onto the river. back out (of sth) to decide that you are no longer going to take part in sth that has been agreed: He lost confidence and backed out of the deal at the last minute. back up