english
1
general::
back down
to admit that you were wrong or that you have been defeated
• Eventually, Roberto backed down and apologized.
• Local residents have forced the local council to back down from/on its plans to build a nightclub in their street., back sth up
[ M often passive ]
2. to make an extra copy of computer information
• Make sure you back up your files., back away
1. to move backwards away from something or someone, usually because you are frightened
• She saw that he had a gun and backed away., back away
2. to show that you do not support a plan or idea any more and do not want to be involved with it
• The government has backed away from plans to increase taxes., back sb up
[ M ]
2. to say that someone is telling the truth
• Honestly, that's exactly what happened - Claire will back me up.
• Will you back me up if I say that I never saw him?, back sb up
[ M ]
1. to support or help someone
• My family backed me up throughout the court case., back (sth) up
[ M ]
to drive backwards , back up
If traffic backs up, the vehicles have to wait in a long line because there are too many of them
• The traffic is starting to back up on the M25., back sth up
[ M often passive ]
1. to prove something is true
• His claims are backed up by recent research., back onto sth
If a building backs onto something, its back faces that thing
• The house backs onto a narrow alley., back off
informal
2. to move backwards away from someone, usually because you are frightened
• I saw the knife and backed off., back out
to decide not to do something that you had said you would do
• You agreed to come. You can't back out now!
• They backed out of the deal the day before they were due to sign the contract., back off
informal
1. to stop being involved in a situation, usually in order to allow other people to deal with it themselves
• She started to criticize me, then she suddenly backed off.
• Just back off and let us do this on our own, will you?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
noun
spine:
Lifting too much, he hurt his back.
adj.
not main:
The shop was on a back street.
verb
support:
We will back the Red Army.
noun
rear:
The back of the house was dark.
adv.
return:
We must go back because of the snow.
adj.
not current:
It was a back issue of the magazine.
Simple Definitions
3
general::
noun part of the body ADJ. broad | lean, slender | muscled, muscular, powerful, strong | bent | erect, straight | lower, upper | bad, stiff He's off work with a bad back. VERB + BACK bend, stiffen, straighten | stretch He yawned and stretched his back as he got out of bed. | break, hurt, injure | arch The cat arched its back and hissed at the dog. | support | knead, massage | scratch BACK + VERB arch | stiffen His back stiffened as he saw the photographers waiting. | ache BACK + NOUN injury, pain, trouble | muscles | support a seat with good back support PREP. behind your ~ They blindfolded him and tied his hands behind his back.(figurative) People say bad things about him behind his back, but never to his face. | flat on your ~ I was flat on my back for six weeks when I broke my leg. | on your ~ He was carrying a small child on his back. She was lying on her back on the sofa. | in the/your ~ I've got a nagging pain in my lower back. | ~ to He was standing with his back to the fire. PHRASES sb's back is turned (figurative) The boss was certain that the staff would stop working as soon as his back was turned. | back to back The children sat back to back so they couldn't see each others' drawings. | a pat/slap on the back He smiled and gave me a hearty slap on the back.(figurative) She deserves a pat on the back for her efforts. | the small of your back She felt a sharp pain in the small (= the lowest part of) her back. | turn your back (on sb/sth) Actors should never turn their backs on the audience.(figurative) She decided to turn her back on Paris and return to her home town. part furthest from the front PREP. around/round the ~ If you'd like to come round the back (= to the area behind the house), I'll show you the garden. | at the ~ We could only get seats at the back. | down the ~ My money's all fallen down the back of the cushion. | in the ~ Two passengers sat in the back of the car. | to the ~ The man was refusing to go to the back of the queue. | towards the ~ The arts page is usually towards the back of the newspaper. PHRASES back to front I had my pullover on back to front (= with the back where the front should be)., verb move backwards ADV. hastily, hurriedly She backed away hurriedly. | away, in, off, up If you can't drive in forwards, try backing it in. Back off! There's no need to yell at me. Can you back your car up so that I can get through? VERB + BACK try to He tried to back away. PREP. across She backed across the room. | away from The children backed away from him in fear. | into She backed into the garage. | out of He backed out of the drive. support sb/sth ADV. firmly, strongly Teachers are strongly backing the new educational policies. | fully | overwhelmingly | unanimously | openly, publicly | financially his election bid was financially backed by a soft drinks company. | up I'll back you up if they don't believe you. PHRASAL VERBS back down VERB + BACK refuse to | be forced to, be obliged to PREP. from The government was forced to back down from implementing these proposals. | on She refused to back down on a point of principle. | over The committee finally backed down over the issue of spending cuts.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
4
general::
Phrase(s): *back (at someone)
repaying someone for a bad deed. (*Typically: get ~; have ~.) • Tom called me a jerk, but I’ll get back at him. • I don’t know how I’ll get back for her insult, but I will.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
5
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with BACK, Also see A WHILE BACK; BEHIND SOMEONE'S BACK; BREAK ONE'S BACK; BREAK THE BACK OF; CALL BACK; CHOKE BACK; COME BACK; CUT BACK; DIE BACK; DOUBLE BACK; DRAW BACK; DROP BACK; EYES IN THE BACK OF ONE'S HEAD; FALL BACK; FALL BACK ON; FALL OVER (BACKWARD); FLAT ON ONE'S BACK; FROM WAY BACK; GET BACK; GET ONE'S BACK UP; GIVE THE SHIRT OFF ONE'S BACK; GO BACK ON ONE'S WORD; HANG BACK; HARK(EN) BACK; HOLD BACK; IN ONE'S OWN BACKYARD; KICK BACK; KNOCK BACK; KNOW LIKE A BOOK (THE BACK OF ONE'S HAND); LEFT-HANDED (BACKHANDED) COMPLIMENT; LIKE WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK; LOOK BACK; MONKEY ON ONE'S BACK; OFF SOMEONE'S BACK; PAT ON THE BACK; PAY BACK IN SOMEONE'S OWN COIN; PIN SOMEONE'S EARS BACK; PLAY BACK; PLOW BACK; PULL BACK; PUT ONE'S BACK IN IT; PUT ONE'S BACK UP; ROLL BACK; SCRATCH SOMEONE'S BACK; SEE THE BACK OF; SET BACK; SET BACK ON ONE'S HEELS; SET ONE BACK; SET THE CLOCK BACK; SIT BACK; SLAP ON THE BACK; SNAP BACK; STAB IN THE BACK; TAKE ABACK; TAKE A BACK SEAT; TAKE BACK; TALK BACK; THINK BACK; THROW BACK; TURN BACK; TURN ONE'S BACK ON; WHEN SOMEONE'S BACK IS TURNED; WITH ONE ARM TIED BEHIND ONE'S BACK; YOU SCRATCH MY BACK AND I'LL SCRATCH YOURS.
American Heritage Idioms