see the back of

Idioms

Be finished with, as in I hope we've seen the back of Betsy; she is terribly rude. This idiom transfers literally seeing someone's back because they are leaving to a more figurative and permanent departure. Also see see the last of.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When previewing the last dance in Tilburg, former Scotland international Leanne Crichton admitted it was a "bleak" campaign she was desperate to see the back of.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2025

Mrs Myerscough said she was glad "to see the back" of the person she used to be.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2025

So while most people in the capital, Port-au-Prince, were glad to see the back of their unelected prime minister, many lament the lack of a clear successor.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2024

Or you could simply cough a few times and put a hand to your forehead; then everyone will be happy to see the back of you.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2023

‘Can’t wait to see the back of that stuff,’ Dad said.

From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023