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back of beyond
**back⁴** *v* **1** [I;T] to (cause to) go backwards: *She backed the car through the gate/into the parking space.* **2** [T] to support and encourage, often with money; provide BACKING for: *The bank refused to back the scheme.* | *The union leaders decided to back the Government in its action.* | *the American-backed rebel forces (=who are supported by the Americans)* **3** [T] to put money on the success of (a horse, dog etc in a race); BET ON: *Jane backed the winner and won £5.* **4** [T(with)] to provide with a back or LINING: *curtains backed with a plastic material* **5** [I] tech (of the wind) to change direction, moving round the COMPASS in the order North–West–South–East → compare VEER **6** back the wrong horse to support the loser
**back away** also **back off** *AmE* — *phr v* [I (from)] to move away or back because of fear or dislike: *The dog backed away as the man raised his stick.* | *(fig.)* *The government has backed away from radical reshaping of the tax system.*
**back down** *phr v* [I (over, on)] to accept defeat in an argument, opinion, or claim; admit that one was wrong: *I saw that she was right, so I had to back down.*
**back off** *phr v* [I] *AmE* to stop trying to make (someone) do or think (something): *I saw I was upsetting her so I backed off.* | *Just back off and leave me alone!*
**back onto sthg.** *phr v* [T] (of a place or building) to be near to or have at the back: *The house backs onto the river.*
**back out** *phr v* [I (from, of)] to fail to fulfil a promise, contract etc: *He backed out at the last moment.*
**back sbdy./sthg. up** *phr v* **1** [T] to support, especially in an argument: *The policeman wouldn't have believed me if you hadn't backed me up.* **2** [I;T] to make a copy of (a DISK): *Make sure you back up (the disk) before you turn the computer off.* → see also BACKUP
**back·ache** /'bækeɪk/ *n* [C;U] (a) pain in the back: *suffering from (a) backache* → see ACHE² (USAGE)
**back·bench** /ˌbæk'bentʃ/ *n* any of the seats in the British parliament on which members who do not hold an official position in the government or opposition may sit: *the Tory backbenches* | *backbench support/rebellion* → compare FRONTBENCH
**back·bench·er** /ˌbæk'bentʃər/ *n* a member of the British parliament who does not hold an official position in the government or opposition, and who sits on one of the back seats: *angry backbenchers* → compare FRONTBENCHER
**back·bit·ing** /'bækbaitɪŋ/ *n* [U] unkind and unpleasant talk about someone who is absent: *I didn't enjoy working there – there was too much backbiting.* —**er** *n*
**back·board** /'bækbɔːd||-bɔːrd/ *n* (in BASKETBALL) the board behind the basket
**back·bone** /'bækbəʊn/ *n* **1** [C] the row of bones in the centre of a person's or animal's back; SPINE **2** [the (of)] the part of a group, organization etc that provides the main support: *The small farmers form the backbone of the country's economy.* **3** [U] firmness of mind; strength of character: *'No backbone,' said the old general. 'That's the trouble with young people today!'*
**back·break·ing** /'bækbreɪkɪŋ/ *adj* (of work) very hard and heavy: *a backbreaking job/load*
**back 'burner** *n* *infml* **on the back burner** left to be dealt with later: *We put the Thompson project on the back burner while we rushed to meet the deadline on the Italo contract.*
**back ˌcatalogue** *n* music that a performer has recorded in the past
**back·chat** /'bæktʃæt/ *BrE* || **back talk** *AmE* — *n* [U] rude talk in reply to someone: *Just listen to me! I don't want any backchat!*
**back·cloth** /'bæk-klɒθ||-klɔːθ/ *n* *BrE* for BACKDROP
**back·comb** /'bæk-kəʊm/ *v* [T] *BrE* to comb (hair) against the direction of growth, in order to make it look thicker
**back ,country, the** *n* **1** especially *AustrE* a country area where few people live **2** *AmE* an area, especially in the mountains, away from roads and towns: *hiking in the back country of Yosemite National Park*
**back·date** /ˌbæk'deɪt||'bækdeɪt/ *v* [T(to)] to make effective from an earlier date: *The pay increase agreed in June will be backdated to January.* → compare ANTENDATE, POSTDATE
**back 'door** *n* **1** a door at the back or side of a building **2** get in **through/by the back door** to get a job, a place in a university etc through having some unfair advantage
**back·door** /'bækdɔːr/ *adj* [only before n] secret, or not publicly stated as your intention
**back·drop** /'bækdrɒp||-drɑːp/ also **backcloth** *BrE* — *n* **1** a painted cloth hung across the back of a stage **2** the conditions in which something happens; BACKGROUND: *The stormy political events of the 1930s provided the backdrop for the film.*
**back·er** /'bækər/ *n* **1** someone who supports a plan, especially with money: *We'll stage the play as soon as we've found a backer.* **2** someone who BACKS a horse
**back·fire** /ˌbæk'faɪər||'bækfaɪər/ *v* [I] **1** (of a motor vehicle) to make a loud noise because the explosion in the engine comes too soon **2** [(on)] to have an unexpected effect opposite to the effect intended: *His plan backfired (on him), and he lost all his money.*
**'back forˌma·tion** *n* tech a word formed from another word that seems to be formed from it, especially by removing a SUFFIX: *The verb 'televise' is a back formation from 'television'.*
**back·gam·mon**
/'bækgæmən/ *n* [U] an indoor game for two players, using round wooden pieces and DICE on a special board
**back·ground**
/'bækgraʊnd/ *n* **1** [C] the scenery or space behind the main objects or people in a view, a picture, or a photograph: *The mountains form a background to this photograph of the family.* | *(fig.)* *She has a lot of power, but likes to remain in the background.* (=as unnoticeable as possible) → compare FOREGROUND **2** [C;U] the conditions that exist when something happens, and that help to explain it: *The riots took place against a background of widespread unemployment.* | *You'll have to give me a bit more background (information) before I can help you.* **3** [C] a person's family, social class, experience, and education: *She has a background in child psychology.* | *children from disadvantaged backgrounds*
**back·hand** /'bækhænd/ *n* (in games such as tennis) (the ability to make) a stroke with the back of the hand turned in the direction of movement: *He's got an excellent backhand.* → compare FOREHAND —**backhand** *adj, adv:* *He returned it backhand.*
**back·hand·ed** /ˌbæk'hændɪd/ ||/'bækhændɪd/ *adj* **1** using or made with a backhand **2** *BrE* (of a remark) indirect, especially SARCASTIC: *a backhanded compliment* —**backhanded** *adv*
**back·hand·er** /'bækhændər/ *n* **1** a backhanded blow or stroke **2** *BrE infml* a BRIBE
**back·ing** /'bækɪŋ/ *n* **1** [U] help or support, especially with money: *He's won the backing of the Congress for his scheme.* **2** [C;U] something that is used to make the back of an object: (a) *backing of cardboard* **3** [C] the musical ACCOMPANIMENT that supports a singer or musician
**back·lash** /'bæklæʃ/ *n* **1** [(against)] a strong but usually delayed feeling of opposition among many people towards a belief or practice, especially towards a political or social development: *The continual rise in violent crime eventually provoked a backlash against the liberal gun-control laws.* **2** a sudden violent backward movement
**back·less** /'bækləs/ *adj* a backless dress or SWIMSUIT does not cover much or any of a woman's back
**back·log** /'bæklɒg||-lɔːg, -lɑːg/ *n* [C usually sing.] a number of jobs that have to be done that were not done at the proper time: *a backlog of work after the holidays*
**'back 'number** *n* a newspaper, magazine etc that is out of date, but may still be interesting or valuable → see also BACK³
**ˌback of be'yond** *n* [the] *infml*, especially *BrE* a very distant place which is difficult to get to: *They live on a farm somewhere at/in the back of beyond.*