Back

verb. (colloquial).—1.  To espouse, advocate, or support a matter, by money, influence, authority, etc.: usually TO BACK UP. Hence (2), in racing = to wager, or bet in support of one’s opinion, judgment, or fancy; TO BACK THE FIELD = to bet against all horses save one, usually ‘the favourite’; BACKED = betted on; BACKER = (1) a supporter, a BACK-FRIEND (q.v.), and (2) a layer of odds: cf. BOOKIE; BACKING = support.

  1548.  W. PATTEN, The Expedition into Scotland [ARBER, Garner, III. 98]. A troup of Demi-lances to BACK them.

  1583.  BARRINGTON, Commandm., 380. A BACKER to beare out my foule expressions.

  1589.  Pappe with an Hatchet (1844), 15. Art thou so BACKT that none dare blade it with thee?

  d. 1592.  GREENE, Orlando Furioso (1599), 30. He BACKT the Prince of Cuba for my foe.

  1599.  NASHE, Lenten Stuffe (1877), 77. Faithful confederates and BACK-FRIENDS.

  c. 1605.  ROWLEY [?], The Birth of Merlin, iv. 2. 340. The Saxons which thou brought’st To BACK thy usurpations.

  1612.  TAYLOR, Commentarie, Titus, i. 9. Which godly course Augustine BACKETH.

  1684.  BUNYAN, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii. 70. One, that … had taken upon him to BACK the Lions.

  1692.  RAY, Dissolution and Changes of the World, Pref. Well-BACKED by Divine Authority.

  1697.  DRYDEN, Virgil’s Eclogues, iii. 44. Now BACK your Singing with an equal Stake.

  1699.  LUTTRELL, Brief Relations of State Affairs, IV. 503. The lord Wharton’s horse Careless has beaten another BACKT by the duke of Devon, etc., for £1900.

  1722.  DEFOE, Moll Flanders (1840), 313. He BACKED his discourses with proper quotations of scripture.

  1774.  BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 1. ‘Argument.’ Apollo … did not fail To BACK his parson tooth and nail.

  1817.  BYRON, Beppo, xxvii.

  1818.  SCOTT, Rob Roy, viii. A quarter whence assuredly he expected no BACKING. Ibid. (1823), Quentin Durward, vi. I had in case of the worst a stout BACK-FRIEND in this uncle of mine.

  1834.  MARRYAT, Jacob Faithful, xxiii. 80. Some one BACKED me against another man in the ring for fifty pounds a-side.

  1838.  DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby, i. 1. Likened to two principals in a sparring match, who, when fortune is low and BACKERS scarce, will chivalrously set to, for the mere pleasure of the buffeting.

  1850.  BULWER-LYTTON, My Novel, IX. ix. ‘Take any odds against him that his BACKERS may give,’ said L’Estrange.

  1853.  ROGERS, The Eclipse of Faith, 76. Authoritative teaching … BACKED by the performance of miracles?

  1865.  ARNOLD, Essays in Criticism, i. 32. Let us all stick to each other and BACK each other up.

  1868.  E. A. FREEMAN, The History of the Norman Conquest of England (1876), II. x. Demands which had been BACKED by an armed force.

  1879.  FROUDE, Cæsar, xxi. He prolonged Cæsar’s command, and BACKED him UP in everything.

  1880.  R. JEFFRIES, Hodge and His Masters, I. 79. The old uncle who had ‘BACKED’ him at the bank.

  1880.  Times, 11 Dec., 9. It is promoted by what appears to be a solid BACKING of landowners.

  1883.  BENSON [Standard, 28 June, 2. 3. Varied appeals to strengthen and ‘BACK UP’ their own long-continued efforts.]

  3.  (venery).—To copulate: properly of animals. Also TO LIE ON ONE’S BACK, TO MAKE THE BEAST WITH TWO BACKS (see BEAST), TO HAVE (or DO) A BACK-FALL (or BACK-SCUTTLE), TO GO STAR-GAZING (or STUDYING ASTRONOMY) ON ONE’S BACK, etc. Also TO EARN MONEY ON ONE’S BACK = to play the whore. See BACKWARD.

  1611.  CHAPMAN, May-Day, iii. 3. Now hath my soul a thousand fancies in an instant; as what wench dreams not on when she LIES ON HER BACK?

  1658.  E. TOPSELL, Four-footed Beasts, 927. When as the female or she Asse would be BACKT.

  1705–7.  WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, II. iii. 6.

  4.  (colloquial).—To endorse; to countersign: e.g., TO BACK a cheque; also to BACK A BILL = to become responsible for payment: cf. ‘to foot’ an account. BACKED = endorsed, ‘accepted.’ Formerly to ‘direct’ or address a letter: prior to the general use of envelopes, the address was written on the back of the folded sheet.

  1768.  BLACKSTONE, Commentaries, IV. 238. The warrant of a justice of the peace in one county … must be BACKED, that is, signed by a justice of the peace in another … before it can be executed there.

  1874.  BEETON, The Siliad, 156. And brought the prestige of a lordly name To BACK a bill.

  TO BE BACKED, verb. phr. (old).—To be dead: see quot.

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. BACKT … ‘he longs to have his Father upon six Mens shoulders’ [GROSE (1785), Ibid.: ‘that is carrying to his grave’].

  PHRASES AND COLLOQUIALISMS:  TO GIVE ONE THE BACK = to ignore; BEHIND ONE’S BACK = out of sight, hearing, or knowledge; TO GIVE BACK = to turn tail; TO TURN ONE’S (or THE) BACK ON = (1) to go, (2) to abandon, and (3) to snub; BACK AND SIDE (BACK AND BELLY, or BACK AND EDGE) = all over, completely, through thick and thin: TO TAKE THE BACK ON ONESELF = to run away; WITH BACK TO THE WALL = hard-pressed, struggling against odds; TO HAVE BY THE BACK = to seize, to lay hold of; TO BREAK THE BACK = (1) to overburden, (2) to all but finish (a task), and (3) to exhaust one’s partner in the act of kind; TO RIDE ON ONE’S BACK = to deceive; TO GET THE BACK OF = (1) to take in the rear, and (2) to have at an advantage; ON ONE’S BACK = (1) FLOORED (q.v.), (2) at the end of one’s resources, (3) sick or indisposed, and (4) SPREAD (q.v.); TO HAVE (PUT, GET, or SET) ONE’S BACK UP = (1) to resist, to rouse, and (2) to get (or be) angry (B. E. and GROSE): whence, ‘DON’T GET YOUR BACK UP!’ = ‘Keep calm!’ or ‘YOUR BACK’S UP = a jeer at an angry hunchbacked man’; TO BACK OUT = to retire cautiously, to escape from a dilemma; TO GIVE (or MAKE) A BACK = (1) to lend a hand, and (2) to bend the body, as at leap-frog; TO BACK DOWN = (1) to yield or retire from a matter, and (2) to eat one’s words: hence a BACK-DOWN (or SQUARE BACK-DOWN) = (1) utter collapse, and (2) a severe rebuff; TO BE ON A MAN’S BACK = to chide, to be severe upon; TO SEE THE BACK OF = to get rid of. Also ‘His BACK is broad enough to bear jests’ (RAY); ‘What is got over the devil’s BACK is spent under his belly (see quot. 1694).

  c. 1300.  Cursor Mundi, 2499. Þe fiue GAUE BAK to wine away. Ibid., 4390. He drou, sco held, þe tassel brak, þe mantel left, he GAFE ÞE BAK.

  c. 1380.  WYCLIF, Works (1880), 281. Þou puttest þi self BEHINDE ÞI BAKE.

  c. 1400.  The Destruction of Troy, xxiii., 9474. Þai were boun to GYFFE BAKE, & the bent leue. Ibid., iv. 1348. The Troiens … TURNYT ÞE BAKE, ffleddon in fere.

  c. 1400.  The Romaunt of the Rose, 7318. Til he be slayne, BACK AND SIDE.

  c. 1485.  Digby MS. (1882), i. 340. I shuld bete you BAK AND SIDE.

  c. 1500.  Lancelot of the Lak, 1488.

  1533.  BELLENDEN, Livy, i. 50. Dredand … to be inclusit on every side … they GAIF BAKKIS.

  1535.  W. STEWART, The Croniclis of Scotland, II. 73.

  c. 1555.  RIDLEY, Works, 67. Else thou must be HAD BY THE BACK.

  1595.  SHAKESPEARE, Two Gentlemen of Verona, v. 4. 126. Thurio GIUE BACKE, or else embrace thy death. Ibid. (1595), Romeo and Juliet, iv. 1. 28. It will be of more price, Being spoke BEHIND YOUR BACKE, then to your face. Ibid. (1597), 2 Henry IV., i. 1. 130. The shame Of those that TURN’D THEIR BACKS. Ibid. (1605), King Lear, i. 1. 178. To TURNE THY hated BACKE Upon our kingdome. Ibid. (1613), Henry VIII., i. 1. 84. Many Haue BROKE THEIR BACKES with laying Mannors on ’em For this great Journey.

  1597.  T. MORLEY, Introduction to Pratical Music, 146. The brother I HAUE YOU BY THE BACKE.

  1610.  Wizard [NARES]. Thy father made an asse off, wilt thou goe? And I in triumph RIDING ON HIS BACK.

  1611.  Bible, 1 Sam. x. 9. When he had TURNED HIS BACKE to go from Samuel.

  c. 1624.  SMYTH, Sermons (1632), 24. They GAUE him THE BACK, and became apostates.

  1641.  HOTHAM in Long Parliament [SOUTHEY, Commonplace Book, II. (1849), 147]. Mr Speaker; FALL BACK, FALL EDGE I will go down and perform your commands.

  1653.  H. HOLCROFT, Procopius, 128. John … compassed the Trachea, so that he GOT THE BACKES of the Enemy.

  c. 1655.  GURNALL, The Christian in Complete Armour, v. 343. 1. They never look up to heaven, till God lays them ON THEIR BACK.

  1659.  Lady Alimony, iii., 7 (DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), 4th ed., 1875, xiv., 340). They have engaged themselves ours BACK AND EDGE.

  1661.  DAVENPORT, The City Night-Cap, v. 1. Catch’d at thy word, thou GIV’ST BACK.

  c. 1680.  BEVERIDGE, Sermons (1729), i. 99. If you TURN YOUR BACKS and refuse to … hearken.

  1682.  BUNYAN, Holy War, 236. Emmanuel, their Prince, has GIVEN them THE BACK.

  1694.  MOTTEUX, Rabelais, V. xi. WHAT IS GOT OVER THE DEVIL’S BACK IS SPENT UNDER HIS BELLY; or the goods which they unjustly get, perish with their prodigal heirs.

  c. 1709.  WARD, Terræ Filius, I. 21. She never gets a man upon the Hug, but she always BREAKS HIS BACK before she has done with him.

  1710.  Dame Huddle’s Letter. That word SET MY BACK UP.

  1711.  ADDISON, Spectator, 12. 2. The Mistress … scolds at the Servants as heartily before my Face as BEHIND MY BACK. Ibid., 108. 4. Sir Roger’s BACK was no sooner TURNED but honest Will began.

  1716.  BEHN, The Dutch Lover, ii. 3. I’ll have no more to do with you BACK NOR EDGE.

  1730.  VANBRUGH and CIBBER, The Provoked Husband, v. 1. O Lud! HOW HER BACK WILL BE UP then when she meets me.

  1771.  SMOLLETT, The Expedition of Humphry Clinker, 66. My uncle’s BACK WAS UP in a moment; and he desired him to explain his pretensions.

  1774.  BRIDGES, A Burlesque Translation of Homer, 45.

  1777.  SHERIDAN, The School for Scandal, i. 1. I cannot bear to hear people attacked BEHIND THEIR BACKS.

  1783.  R. AINSWORTH, Latin Dictionary, s.v. BACK. TO GIVE BACK, Pedem referre.

  1817.  SCOTT, Rob Roy, viii. Jobson was determined that Morris should not BACK OUT … so easily.

  1830.  MARRYAT, The King’s Own, xxi. ‘Sure your honour’s in luck’ … replied Barney, grinning, and BACKING OUT of the room.

  1836.  DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, vii. 57. Stooping … as if he were ‘MAKING A BACK’ for some beginner at leap-frog.

  1841.  CATLIN, North American Indians, II. xlv. Sick and very feeble, having been for several weeks UPON MY BACK.

  1845.  B. DISRAELI, Sybil; or, The Two Nations (1863), 14. But the other great Whig families … SET UP THEIR BACKS against this claim of the Egremonts.

  1848.  THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, iii. The Major was GIVING A BACK to Georgy.

  1848.  J. R. LOWELL, The Biglow Papers, 124.

  1848.  BEDINGER, Speech in the House of Representatives, 25 Jan. Would gentlemen be willing to BACK OUT, and forsake our rights? No, no. No turning back. This great country must go ahead.

  1854.  H. MILLER, My Schools and Schoolmasters, 536. I ill liked to see him with his BACK TO THE WALL.

  1855.  A. TROLLOPE, The Warden, xii. How was he to BACK OUT [when] his name was already so publicly concerned.

  1855.  THACKERAY, The Newcomes, xvi. ‘I know she is flighty, and that; and Brian’s BACK IS UP a little.’

  1863.  CLARKE, Shakespeare-Characters, ix. 226. Octavius BACKS OUT: his caution and reserve come to his rescue.

  1864.  Sunday Magazine, 1. 79. He goes his own way … if you PUT HIS BACK UP.

  1866.  G. MACDONALD, Annals of a Quiet Neighborhood, xxx. I never TURNED MY BACK ON my leader yet.

  c. 1870.  SPOFFORD, A Pilot’s Wife [A Casquet of Literature (1877), IV. 9. 1]. The little cat used to PUT UP HER BACK at the three.

  1870.  L. OLIPHANT, Piccadilly, IV. 152. He had done his best to spread the report of my marriage with his sister for fear of my BACKING OUT.

  1874.  MAHAFFY, Social Life in Greece, iii. They will … censure her BEHIND BACKS.

  1880.  St. James’s Gazette, 11 Oct. Unless the Government BACK DOWN from their preparations at this point.

  1883.  Statist, 21 July. While they were maturing their scheme, the Government went BEHIND THEIR BACKS and concluded an agreement.

  1880.  GREENWOOD, Grandmother Cooper, in Odd People in Odd Places, 2. ‘Don’t say it to me. It SETS MY BACK UP, and when my BACK’S SET UP I’m sometimes orkard.’

  1884.  Harper’s Magazine, June, 66. 2. Be firm, don’t BACK DOWN.

  TO BACK UP, verb. phr. (Winchester).—To call out: e.g., ‘Why didn’t you BACK UP? I would have come and helped you.’ In College, times are BACKED UP by Junior in Chambers: such as ‘Three quarters,’ ‘Hour,’ ‘Bells go single,’ ‘Bells down.’

  See BEYOND.