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English Vietnamese dictionary

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Advanced English dictionary

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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.
See also - BAREBACK, HORSEBACK
2 the row of bones in the middle of the back
Synonym: BACKBONE, 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 [usually sing.] ~ (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.
See also - HARDBACK, PAPERBACK, SHORT BACK AND SIDES
of piece of paper
4 [usually sing.] ~ (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 [usually sing.] ~ (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
Compare: FORWARD n.
See also - FULLBACK, 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
See also - BACK-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.
Compare: inside out at INSIDE n.
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.
Compare: to sb's face at FACE n.
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.
more at EYE n., KNOW v., PAT n., PAT v., PUSH v., ROD, SCRATCH v., SHIRT, STAB n., STAB v., STRAW, WATER n.
+ adjective [only before noun]
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
Compare: FRONT adj.
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.
See also - BACK-DOOR
on the back burner (informal) (of an idea, a plan, etc.) left for the present time, to be done or considered later
Compare: on the front burner at FRONT adj.
+ adverb
Help Note: 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.
Antonym: FORWARD
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
more at EARTH n.
+ 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.
Compare: REVERSE
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
See also - BACKING
cover back
5 [VN] ~ sth (with sth) [usually passive] to cover the back of sth in order to support or protect it
be behind
6 [VN] [usually passive] (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
Phrasal Verbs: 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
back sth<->up to move backwards, especially in a vehicle: You can back up another two feet or so. + I backed the car up to the door.
back sb/sth<->up to support sb/sth; to say that what sb says, etc. is true: I'll back you up if they don't believe you. + The writer doesn't back up his opinions with examples.
back sth<->up
1 (computing) to prepare a second copy of a file, program, etc. that can be used if the main one fails or needs extra support: It's a good idea to back up your files onto floppy disk.
related noun BACK-UP
2 to provide support for sb/sth: The rebels backed up their demands with threats. + two doctors backed up by a team of nurses
related noun BACK-UP
WHICH WORD?
at the back / at the rear / behind
At the back and at the rear have a similar meaning,
but at the rear is used more in formal or official language: What's that at the back of the fridge? + Smoking is only allowed at the rear of the aircraft. It is more usual to talk about the back door of a house but the rear exit of an aircraft or public building. If something is behind something else it is near to the back of it but not part of it. Compare:
Our room was at the back of the hotel and There's a lovely wood just behind our hotel.

Thesaurus dictionary

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v.

1 invest in, wager or bet on:

She backed a 35-to-2 long shot in the Derby, and she won.

2 Also, back up.

(a) support, uphold, stand behind, promote, encourage, help, uphold, second, side with, endorse, aid, abet, assist; sponsor, subsidize, underwrite, subvene, finance, Slang US and Canadian bankroll:

Your mother and I will back you if you want to start a business.

(b) reverse, go or move in reverse, go or move backwards:

He backed into the driveway.

3 back down (from) or off (from) or away (from) or out (of) or up. withdraw (from), retreat (from), abandon, retire (from), backtrack (from), shy away (from), recoil (from), turn tail (from):

When Percy stood up to him, the bully backed down. The investment sounded risky, so I backed off. Philippa backed out of singing the leading role. Back up and give me room!

n.

4 backside, rear, Technical dorsum:

She stood with her back towards me.

5 at the back of or at someone's back. behind, following, pursuing, chasing, US in back of:

Here come the hounds at the back of the fox. You were at my back in the queue a minute ago.

6 behind the back of or behind someone's back. surreptitiously, secretly, clandestinely, privately, furtively, sneakily, slyly; treacherously, traitorously, perfidiously, deceitfully, insidiously:

Graham is always telling tales about you behind your back.

7 break the back of.

(a) overcome, master:

Now that he's broken the back of that problem he can get on with his work.

(b) US crush, ruin, bankrupt, destroy, defeat, vanquish, Colloq break:

The government has tried on many occasions to break the back of the Mafia operation.

8 on (someone's) back. US weighing (down) on or upon (someone), burdening (someone), lodged with (someone), resting with (someone):

The responsibility for the decision is on your back.

9 turn one's back on or upon. abandon, forsake, ignore, disregard, repudiate, reject, cast off, disown, deny:

He turned his back on her when she needed him most.

10 with one's back to or against the wall. hard pressed, struggling (against odds), without hope, with little or no hope, helpless, in dire straits, in (serious) trouble:

After the stock-market crash, some brokers found themselves with their backs to the wall.

adj.

11 rear; service, servants':

Both back tyres are flat. Please use the back staircase from now on.

12 US and Australian and New Zealand outlying, remote, isolated, distant; undeveloped, primitive, raw, rough, uncivilized:

They raised three boys in the back country, and all of them became doctors.

13 in arrears, overdue, past due, late; behindhand:

The tax inspector has advised me that I owe thousands in back taxes.

adv.

14 to or toward(s) the rear, rearward(s), backward(s); away:

We beat back the enemy in severe hand-to-hand fighting. I accepted his offer at once, lest he should draw back. Get back from the edge!

15 in return or repayment or requital or retaliation; again:

I'll pay you back when I have the money. She gave him back as good as he had given.

16 ago, in time(s) past:

Two generations back, his was the finest house in the town.

17 behind, behindhand, in arrears, overdue:

We are a week back in the rent.

18 go back on. renege, fail; deny, disavow, break, repudiate:

He has gone back on his promise to send the payment on the first of every month.

Collocation dictionary

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¹ 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.

² 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).

Concise English dictionary

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backs|backed|backingbæk
noun
+the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine
+the side that goes last or is not normally seen
+the part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer
+(football) a person who plays in the backfield
+the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
+the protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book
+the part of a garment that covers the back of your body
+a support that you can lean against while sitting
+the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage
verb
+be behind; approve of
+travel backward
+give support or one's approval to
+cause to travel backward
+support financial backing for
+be in back of
+place a bet on
+shift to a counterclockwise direction
+establish as valid or genuine
+strengthen by providing with a back or backing
adj.
+related to or located at the back
+located at or near the back of an animal
+of an earlier date
adv.
+in or to or toward a former location
+at or to or toward the back or rear
+in or to or toward an original condition
+in or to or toward a past time
+in answer
+in repayment or retaliation

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