B
Idioms beginning with "B"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of B:
[back door] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}
Rear of vehicle.
I am watching your back door.
[back down] or [back off] {v.}, {informal}
To give up a claim; not follow up a threat.
Bill said he could beat Ted, but when Ted put up his fists Bill backed down.
* /Harry claimed Joe had taken his book, but backed down when the teacher talked […]
[back in circulation] {adv. phr.}
1. Socially active once again (said about people); back on the dating circuit after a divorce or a romantic breakup.
Now that Sully is divorced from Jim she is hack in circulation.
2. Once again available to the […]
[back number] {n.}
Something out of fashion, or out of date.
Among today's young people a waltz like "The Blue Danube" is a hack number.
[back of] or [in back of] {prep.}
1. In or at the rear of; to the back of; behind.
The garage is hack of the house.
Our car was in hack of theirs at the traffic light.
2. {informal}
Being a cause or reason for; causing.
* /Hard work was […]
[back out] {v. phr.}
1. To move backwards out of a place or enclosure.
Bob slowly backed his car out of the garage.
2. To withdraw from an activity one has promised to carry out.
* /Jim tried to back out of the engagement with Jane, but she […]
[back street] {n.}
A street not near the main streets or from which it is hard to get to a main street.
We got lost in the back streets going through the city and it took us a half hour to find our way again.
Compare: [SIDE STREET].
[back talk] {n.}
A sassy, impudent reply.
Such back talk will get you nowhere, young man!
See: [TALK BACK].
[back the wrong horse] {v. phr.}
To support a loser.
In voting for George Bush, voters in 1992 were backing the wrong horse.