noun
Meaning 1
An act of backstabbing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: stab in the back
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
backstab
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
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/ˈbækˌstæb/
verb
Meaning 2
To attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly in a deceitful, underhand, or treacherous manner, especially when they're not present in the place or situation that it happens.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: stab in the back
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From back + stab.
Across languages
Translations
15 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Chinese Mandarin: 背叛 (bèipàn) — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- Finnish: puukottaa selkään — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- German: hintergehen — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- Hungarian: hátba támad — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- Hungarian: hátba szúr — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- Indonesian: menikam — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- Italian: colpire alle spalle — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- Japanese: 裏切る (uragiru) — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- Russian: напада́ть исподтишка́ (napadátʹ ispodtišká) — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- Russian: напа́сть исподтишка́ (napástʹ ispodtišká) — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- Russian: ударя́ть в спи́ну (udarjátʹ v spínu) — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- Russian: уда́рить в спи́ну (udáritʹ v spínu) — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- Swedish: ge någon en dolkstöt — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- Swedish: ge någon ett svinhugg — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
- Swedish: hugga i ryggen — to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly — see also stab in the back
Real reading context