Phrase guide

back-seat driver

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An occupant of a large vehicle, such as a firetruck, who helps steer the vehicle from far in the back.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A person sitting (typically) in the back seat of a car issuing (unsolicited and usually unwanted) instructions to the driver.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: nagavator

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An opinionated person who offers (unsolicited and often unwanted) advice on the best way to handle a situation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: takapenkkikuljettaja — advising passenger
  • Finnish: takapenkkikuski — advising passenger
  • French: mouche du coche — advising passenger
  • Icelandic: aftursætisbílstjóri — advising passenger
  • Polish: pasażer dający niepożądane rady — advising passenger
  • Russian: поме́ха спра́ва f /lit:hindrance from the right/ (poméxa správa) — advising passenger
  • Swedish: baksätesförare — advising passenger
  • Hungarian: fogadatlan prókátor — unwanted advocate
  • Norwegian Bokmål: back-seat driver — unwanted advocate
  • Norwegian Bokmål: baksetesjåfør — unwanted advocate
  • Polish: niepożądany doradca — unwanted advocate
  • Portuguese: treinador de bancada — unwanted advocate
  • Swedish: baksätesförare — unwanted advocate