On+the+back

  • 11Stab-in-the-back legend — An illustration from an 1919 Austrian postcard showing a caricatured Jew stabbing the German Army in the back with a dagger. The capitulation was blamed upon the unpatriotic populace, the Socialists, Bolsheviks, the Weimar Republic, and… …

    Wikipedia

  • 12To turn the back — Turn Turn (t[^u]rn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Turned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Turning}.] [OE. turnen, tournen, OF. tourner, torner, turner, F. tourner, LL. tornare, fr. L. tornare to turn in a lathe, to rounds off, fr. tornus a lathe, Gr. ? a turner s… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 13To turn the back on — Turn Turn (t[^u]rn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Turned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Turning}.] [OE. turnen, tournen, OF. tourner, torner, turner, F. tourner, LL. tornare, fr. L. tornare to turn in a lathe, to rounds off, fr. tornus a lathe, Gr. ? a turner s… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 14To turn the back upon — Turn Turn (t[^u]rn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Turned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Turning}.] [OE. turnen, tournen, OF. tourner, torner, turner, F. tourner, LL. tornare, fr. L. tornare to turn in a lathe, to rounds off, fr. tornus a lathe, Gr. ? a turner s… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 15pat on the back(1) — {v. phr.} 1. To clap lightly on the back in support, encouragement, or praise. * /The coach patted the player on the back and said a few encouraging words./ 2. To make your support or encouragement for (someone) felt; praise. * /After he won the… …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 16pat on the back(1) — {v. phr.} 1. To clap lightly on the back in support, encouragement, or praise. * /The coach patted the player on the back and said a few encouraging words./ 2. To make your support or encouragement for (someone) felt; praise. * /After he won the… …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 17To break the back — Break Break (br[=a]k), v. t. [imp. {broke} (br[=o]k), (Obs. {Brake}); p. p. {Broken} (br[=o] k n), (Obs. {Broke}); p. pr. & vb. n. {Breaking}.] [OE. breken, AS. brecan; akin to OS. brekan, D. breken, OHG. brehhan, G. brechen, Icel. braka to creak …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 18pat on the back(2) — {n. phr.} 1. An encouraging tap of the hand on someone s back; a show of sympathy or support. * /I gave her a pat on the back and told her she had done fine work./ 2. A word or gesture of praise or other encouragement; applause. * /Pats on the… …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 19pat on the back(2) — {n. phr.} 1. An encouraging tap of the hand on someone s back; a show of sympathy or support. * /I gave her a pat on the back and told her she had done fine work./ 2. A word or gesture of praise or other encouragement; applause. * /Pats on the… …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 20stab in the back(2) — {n. phr.}, {slang} An act or a lie that hurts a friend or trusting person; a promise not kept, especially to a friend. * /John stabbed his own friend in the back by stealing from his store./ * /My friend stabbed me in the back by telling the… …

    Dictionary of American idioms