back*/*/*/

[bæk] adv I

1) returning to a place or position

Put those CDs back where you found them.[/ex]

Can we go back to what we were talking about earlier?[/ex]

2) returning to an earlier state or condition

We're hoping things will be back to normal again soon.[/ex]

I couldn't get back to sleep.[/ex]

3) as a reply or reaction to what someone else has said or done

Jane phoned, and I said you'd phone her back later.[/ex]

Just because he hit you doesn't mean you have to hit him back.[/ex]

4) away from a person, thing, or position

Get back – he's got a gun![/ex]

The band started playing as the curtain slowly went back.[/ex]

5) in the direction that is behind you

Don't look back, but there's a man following us.[/ex]

6) in or to a time in the past

Back in the '70s, disco music was very popular.[/ex]

Think back: don't you remember anything?[/ex]

7) used for talking about a place that you mentioned or were in before

I have no idea what's going on back home.[/ex]

Back at the hospital, the baby had just been born.[/ex]

•

back and forth — moving first in one direction and then in the opposite direction many times[/ex]

See:

back-to-back

II

adj

back */*/[bæk]

1) furthest from the front

Ant:

front

There's a map on the back page.[/ex]

2) used for describing money that is owed from an earlier date and has not been paid yet

back wages/taxes/rent[/ex]

•

back street/road — a street/road that is away from any main streets/roads[/ex]

III

noun [C]

back */*/*/[bæk]

1) the part of your body between your neck and your bottom, on the opposite side to your chest and stomach

I have a pain in my back.[/ex]

She was lying flat on her back on the bed.[/ex]

2) the part or side of something that is furthest from the front

Ant:

front

Get in the back of the car.[/ex]

The sun burnt the back of my neck.[/ex]

I'll put my name on the back of the envelope.[/ex]

3) the part of a chair that you lean on when you are sitting on it

What's that mark on the back of the sofa?[/ex]

4) an outside area behind a building

The kids are playing out the back.[/ex]

•

at/in the back of your mind — if something is at the back of your mind, you are slightly conscious of it all the time[/ex]

back to front — with the back part at the front[/ex]

Your skirt is on back to front.[/ex]

behind sb's back — if you do something bad or unkind behind someone's back, you do it without them knowing[/ex]

have your back to the wall — to be in a difficult situation with few choices, so that you have to work or fight very hard[/ex]

on sb's back — informal criticizing someone, or telling them to do things[/ex]

on the back of sth — because of something, or helped by something[/ex]

Share prices rose sharply on the back of a rise in profits.[/ex]

when sb's back is turned — when someone is not there, or is not paying attention[/ex]

As soon as her back is turned, he's flirting with other women![/ex]

See:

turn I

IV

verb

back */[bæk]

1) [T] to support a person, organization, or plan, so that they are more likely to succeed

Both main parties are backing these proposals.[/ex]

2) [I/T] to move backwards, or to make a person or a vehicle move backwards

She backed out of the room carrying a tray.[/ex]

Steve backed me into a corner at the party.[/ex]

3) [T] to risk an amount of money by saying that a particular person or animal will win a race or competition

I'm backing France to win the championship.[/ex]

•

- back down

- back off

- back out

- back up

- back (sth) up

- back sb up

- back sth up