Phrase guide

stab in the back

noun · verb · 2 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

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An act of betrayal or treachery.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: perfidy, prodition, treason, betrayal, breach of promise, breach of trust, double-dealing, Judas kiss, perfidiousness, Punic faith, stab in the back, swike, tergiversation, traitory, treacherousness, treachery

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To betray (somebody).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: forswear, sell out, traitorize, assfuck, betray, burn, cop out, cross out, cross up, double-cross, do someone dirty, do the dirty on, false, go back on, knife, let down, play someone false, quisle, renegade, sell, sell the pass, sell down the river, sell down, stab in the back, swike, turncoat

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

34 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 背刺 (bèicì) — act of betrayal
  • Danish: kniv i ryggen — act of betrayal
  • Dutch: dolksteek — act of betrayal
  • Finnish: selkään puukotus — act of betrayal
  • Finnish: selkään puukottaminen — act of betrayal
  • French: trahison — act of betrayal
  • French: coup de poignard dans le dos — act of betrayal
  • French: coup de couteau dans le dos — act of betrayal
  • German: Dolchstoß — act of betrayal
  • Malayalam: പിന്നിൽനിന്നുള്ള കുത്ത് (pinnilninnuḷḷa kuttŭ) — act of betrayal
  • Polish: cios w plecy — act of betrayal
  • Portuguese: facada nas costas — act of betrayal
  • Russian: уда́р в спи́ну (udár v spínu) — act of betrayal
  • Spanish: puñalada trapera — act of betrayal
  • Swedish: dolkstöt (i ryggen) — act of betrayal
  • Vietnamese: sự hãm hại — act of betrayal
  • Azerbaijani: kürəyə xəncər sancmaq — to betray somebody
  • Azerbaijani: kürəyə xəncər saplamaq — to betray somebody
  • Chinese Mandarin: 背刺 (bèicì) — to betray somebody
  • Danish: falde i ryggen — to betray somebody
  • Finnish: puukottaa selkään — to betray somebody
  • French: prendre en traître — to betray somebody
  • German: in den Rücken fallen — to betray somebody
  • Hungarian: hátba szúr — to betray somebody
  • Hungarian: hátba támad — to betray somebody
  • Malayalam: പിന്നിൽനിന്നു കുത്തുക (pinnilninnu kuttuka) — to betray somebody
  • Polish: wbijać nóż w plecy — to betray somebody
  • Polish: wbić nóż w plecy — to betray somebody
  • Spanish: coger por la espalda — to betray somebody
  • Spanish: dejar mal — to betray somebody
  • Spanish: atacar por la espalda — to betray somebody
  • Spanish: apuñalar por la espalda — to betray somebody
  • Swedish: hugga i ryggen — to betray somebody
  • Vietnamese: hãm hại — to betray somebody