back of

Idioms and Phrases

Also, at the back of ; in back of . Behind; also, supporting. For example, The special brands were stored back of the counter , or “Franklin stood back of me in everything I wanted to do” (Eleanor Roosevelt, quoted by Catherine Drinker Bowen, Atlantic Monthly , March 1970). The first term, dating from the late 1600s, was long criticized as an undesirable colloquialism but today is generally considered acceptable. The variants, at the back of , from about 1400, and in back of , from the early 1900s, also can be used both literally and figuratively and could be substituted for back of in either example. Also see back of beyond .

Example Sentences

And, as the documentary illuminated, she worked, worked, worked—even if it meant going to the back-of-beyond venues.

From The Daily Beast

“She has a very low back-of-throat tone that not atypical of rock-pop singers,” Purdy says.

From The Daily Beast

His bassy, back-of-the-throat syllables are straighter and sexier; his yowls are more pointed and pained.

From The Daily Beast

Does it make a difference if Jefferson was opening up his own account books or just making a back-of-the-envelope calculation?

From The Daily Beast

This is the sort of back-of-the-hand campaigning that comes easily to the former House speaker but is more labored for Romney.

From The Daily Beast

You've been having high old times in that back-of-beyond town of yours, haven't you?

From Project Gutenberg