The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - backv.

1) invest in, wager or bet on: She backed a 35-to-2 long shot in the Derby, and she won. 2) Also, back up. a support, uphold, stand behind, promote, encourage, help, uphold, second, side with, endorse, aid, abet, assist; sponsor, subsidize, underwrite, subvene, finance, Slang US and Canadian bankroll: Your mother and I will back you if you want to start a business. b reverse, go or move in reverse, go or move backwards: He backed into the driveway. 3) back down (from) or off (from) or away (from) or out (of) or up. withdraw (from) , retreat (from) , abandon, retire (from) , backtrack (from) , shy away (from) , recoil (from) , turn tail (from) : When Percy stood up to him, the bully backed down. The investment sounded risky, so I backed off. Philippa backed out of singing the leading role. Back up and give me room! --n. 4) backside, rear, Technical dorsum: She stood with her back towards me. 5) at the back of or at someone's back. behind, following, pursuing, chasing, US in back of: Here come the hounds at the back of the fox. You were at my back in the queue a minute ago. 6) behind the back of or behind someone's back. surreptitiously, secretly, clandestinely, privately, furtively, sneakily, slyly; treacherously, traitorously, perfidiously, deceitfully, insidiously: Graham is always telling tales about you behind your back. 7) break the back of. a overcome, master: Now that he's broken the back of that problem he can get on with his work. b US crush, ruin, bankrupt, destroy, defeat, vanquish, Colloq break: The government has tried on many occasions to break the back of the Mafia operation. 8) on (someone's) back. US weighing (down) on or upon (someone) , burdening (someone) , lodged with (someone) , resting with (someone) : The responsibility for the decision is on your back. 9) turn one's back on or upon. abandon, forsake, ignore, disregard, repudiate, reject, cast off, disown, deny: He turned his back on her when she needed him most. 1) 0 with one's back to or against the wall. hard pressed, struggling (against odds) , without hope, with little or no hope, helpless, in dire straits, in (serious) trouble: After the stock-market crash, some brokers found themselves with their backs to the wall. --adj. 1) 1 rear; service, servants': Both back tyres are flat. Please use the back staircase from now on. 12 US and Australian and New Zealand outlying, remote, isolated, distant; undeveloped, primitive, raw, rough, uncivilized: They raised three boys in the back country, and all of them became doctors. 1) 3 in arrears, overdue, past due, late; behindhand: The tax inspector has advised me that I owe thousands in back taxes. --adv. 1) 4 to or toward(s) the rear, rearward(s) , backward(s) ; away: We beat back the enemy in severe hand-to-hand fighting. I accepted his offer at once, lest he should draw back. Get back from the edge! 15 in return or repayment or requital or retaliation; again: I'll pay you back when I have the money. She gave him back as good as he had given. 16 ago, in time(s) past: Two generations back, his was the finest house in the town. 1) 7 behind, behindhand, in arrears, overdue: We are a week back in the rent. 1) 8 go back on. renege, fail; deny, disavow, break, repudiate: He has gone back on his promise to send the payment on the first of every month.