back of

Idioms  

1. 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

See Examples For:

back of

Meanwhile, speaking to The Nolan Show, Fitzpatrick said she understood "working-class parents have frustrations but that's not on the back of these three and four-year-old children."

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Aston Martin have had their major upgrades but were right at the back of the grid again in Monza.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

At that time, the central bank faced criticism for moving too slowly as eurozone inflation surged on the back of post-Covid pandemic supply chain woes and then the energy shock from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

So defensive back Kennedy Urlacher came flying into the backfield and collided into Bulldogs quarterback Jayden Mandal, who fell out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026

A cold prickle went up the back of my neck, but I resisted the urge to turn around.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

• backward