The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms Read online

  back against the wall → See BACK TO THE WALL.

  back alley → See under BACK STREET.

  back and fill Vacillate, be undecided, as in This measure will never be passed if the town meeting continues to back and fill. This term comes from sailing ships, where it signifies alternately backing and filling the sails, a method used when the wind is running against a ship in a narrow channel. The sail is hauled back against the wind and braced so that the tide or current carries the ship forward against the wind. Then the sail must be swung around and filled, to keep the ship on course. The term’s figurative use for indecisiveness dates from the mid-1800s.

  back and forth Also, backward(s) and forward(s). To and fro, moving in one direction and then the opposite and so making no progress in either. For example, The clock pendulum swung back and forth. The term is also used figuratively, as in The lawyers argued the point backwards and forwards for an entire week. [c. 1600]

  back away 1. Walk backward, as in He cautiously backed away from the fire. 2. Gradually retreat, withdraw, as in Since he couldn’t convince his colleagues, he’s backing away from his original idea. Both usages employ the verb back in the sense of “retreat,” dating from the late 1400s. Also see BACK DOWN; BACK OUT.

  back burner, on a In a position of low priority. For example, I haven’t forgotten his letter; I’ve just put it on a back burner for now. This term alludes to a cook’s putting items requiring less attention at the back of the stove. [Colloquial; mid-1900s] Also see FRONT BURNER.

  back door 1. An entry at the rear of a building, as in Deliveries are supposed to be made at the back door only. [First half of 1500s] 2. A clandestine, unauthorized, or illegal way of operating. For example, Salesmen are constantly trying to push their products by offering special gifts through the back door. This term alludes to the fact that the back door cannot be seen from the front. [Late 1500s]

  back down 1. Reverse one’s upward course, descend. For example, When she saw the wasps’ nest on the roof, she hastily backed down the ladder. This literal usage usually refers to something one has climbed, such as a ladder or mountain. [Mid-1800s] 2. Also, back off. Retreat or yield. For example, As the watchdog began to snarl the letter carrier backed off, or You have a good point; now don’t back down when you present it to the board. [First half of 1900s] Also see BACK AWAY, def. 2.

  back in circulation → See IN CIRCULATION.

  back in harness → See IN HARNESS.

  back in the day In the past, some time ago. It may be uttered nostalgically, as in Back in the day of vinyl records, you could buy popular music very cheaply, or straightforwardly, as by Gail Collins discussing changing medical advice, “Back in the day, estrogen was prescribed only for women who were experiencing serious problems with menopause (New York Times, April 7, 2011). [1980s]

  back number Dated, out of style. For example, That hat is really a back number; or The game has changed so fast that a player who returns to the circuit after several years’ absence usually finds he or she is a back number. This term originally referred to back issues of periodicals, which are no longer newsworthy. [Late 1800s]

  back of Also, at the back of; in back of. Behind; also, supporting. For example, The special brands were stored back of the counter; or “Franklin stood back of me in everything I wanted to do” (Eleanor Roosevelt, quoted by Catherine Drinker Bowen, Atlantic Monthly, March 1970). The first term, dating from the late 1600s, was long criticized as an undesirable colloquialism but today is generally considered acceptable. The variants, at the back of, from about 1400, and in back of, from the early 1900s, also can be used both literally and figuratively and could be substituted for back of in either example. Also see BACK OF BEYOND.

  back of beyond Extremely remote. For example, John’s about to move to some tiny island, truly back of beyond. This term, used as a humorous exaggeration, relies on the meaning of beyond (or the beyond) as “a distant place, beyond human experience.” [Early 1800s]

  back off 1. See BACK DOWN, def. 2. 2. Relent, abandon one’s stand. For example, The chairman wanted to sell one division but later backed off. [Mid-1900s]

  back of one’s hand Rejection or contempt, as in Unimpressed with him, she gave the back of her hand to his suggestion. This phrase is usually the object of a verb such as give or show. [Second half of 1700s] Back of the hand similarly means “an insult” in the term back-handed compliment (see under LEFT-HANDED COMPLIMENT) but has a quite different meaning in know like the back of one’s hand (see under KNOW LIKE A BOOK).

  back of one’s mind The remote part of one’s mind or memory, as in With the idea of quitting in the back of his mind, he turned down the next assignment. [c. 1900]

  back on one’s feet → See ON ONE’S FEET.

  back order An item not currently in stock but to be sold or delivered when it becomes available, as in We don’t have the shoes in white, but we can make them a back order. The verb back-order means “to obtain such an item,” as in The furniture store is going to back-order the sofa for us.

  back out 1. Move or retreat backwards without turning; same as BACK AWAY, def. 1. 2. Also, back out of something. Withdraw from a situation, or break an agreement or engagement. For example, After the announcement appeared in the papers, Mary found it doubly difficult to back out of her engagement to Todd. [Early 1800s] Also see GO BACK ON.

  backseat driver A passenger who gives unwanted and/or unneeded directions to the driver; also, a person who interferes in affairs without having knowledge, responsibility, or authority for doing so. For example, Aunt Mary drives us all crazy with her instructions; she’s an incurable backseat driver. This term originated in the United States in the 1920s, when it was first used for a passenger legitimately directing a chauffeur, and it was quickly transferred to figurative use. Also see the synonym MONDAY-MORNING QUARTERBACK and the antonym TAKE A BACK SEAT.

  back street Also, back alley. A less prominent or inferior location; also, a scene of clandestine or ­illegal dealings. For example, The highway department is very slow to clear snow from the back streets, or Before they were made legal, abortions were often performed in back alleys. Although back street literally means “one away from the main or business area of a town or city,” this term, from the early 1600s, became associated with underhanded dealings, and back alley, from the mid-1800s, is always used in this sense.

  back the wrong horse Also, bet on the wrong horse. Guess wrongly or misjudge a future outcome, as in Jones garnered only a few hundred votes; we obviously backed the wrong horse, or Counting on the price of IBM to rise sharply was betting on the wrong horse. Transferred from wagering money on a horse that fails to win the race, a usage dating from the late 1600s, this term is widely applied to elections and other situations of uncertain outcome.

  back to back 1. With backs close together or touching, as in In the first and second rows of the bus, the seats were back to back, an unusual arrangement. This term also can be applied to persons who stand facing in opposite directions and with their backs touching. [Mid-1800s] 2. Consecutively, one after another, as in I’m exhausted; I had three meetings back to back. [Mid-1900s]

  back to basics Back to fundamental principles, as in The plans are much too elaborate; to stay in our budget we have to get back to basics. At first this term was used mainly for schooling that stresses proficiency in reading, writing, and mathematics (also see THREE R’S), but it quickly was transferred to other areas. [1970s]

  back to the drawing board Also, back to square one. Back to the beginning because the current attempt was unsuccessful, as in When the town refused to fund our music program, we had to go back to the drawing board, or I’ve assembled this wrong side up, so it’s back to square one. The first term originated during World War II, most likely from the caption of a cartoon by Peter Arno in The New Yorker magazine. It pictured a man who held a set of blueprints and was watching an airplane explode. The variant is thought to come from a board game or street game where an unlucky throw of dice or a
marker sends the player back to the beginning of the course. It was popularized by British sportscasters in the 1930s, when the printed radio program included a grid with numbered squares to help listeners follow the description of a soccer game.

  back to the salt mines Resume work, usually with some reluctance, as in With my slavedriver of a boss, even on Saturdays it’s back to the salt mines. This term alludes to the Russian practice of punishing prisoners by sending them to work in the salt mines of Siberia. Today the term is only used ironically. [Late 1800s] Also see NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE.

  back to the wall Also, back against the wall. In a hard-pressed situation; also, without any way of escape. For example, In the closing few minutes, our team had its back to the wall but continued to fight gallantly, or The bank has him with his back to the wall; he’ll have to pay up now. This term was used originally for a military force that is making a last stand. [First half of 1500s]

  back up 1. Move or drive a vehicle backward, as in He told her to back up into the garage. [First half of 1800s] 2. Bring or come to a standstill, as in The water had backed up in the drains, or The accident had backed up traffic for miles. [First half of 1800s] 3. Support or strengthen, as in The photos were backed up with heavy cardboard so they couldn’t be bent, or I’ll back up that statement of yours. [Second half of 1700s] 4. Duplicate a file or program so that the original is not lost. For example, Every computer manual warns you to back up your work frequently in case of a power outage or computer failure. [Second half of 1900s]

  backward → In addition to the idiom beginning with BACKWARD, also see BEND OVER BACKWARDS; KNOW LIKE A BOOK (BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS).

  backward and forward Also, backwards and forwards. 1. Same as BACK AND FORTH. 2. Thoroughly, completely, as in He read the speech over and over, until he knew it backwards and forwards. [Late 1500s]

  back water Reverse a position, take back a statement, or otherwise retreat, as in We’re sure that the senator will back water on raising taxes. This term literally refers to a vessel that moves backward in the water because its oars, paddles, or paddlewheel are reversed. It soon was transferred to other kinds of reversal. [Second half of 1700s]

  bacon → See BRING HOME THE BACON; SAVE ONE’S BACON.

  bad → In addition to the idioms beginning with BAD, also see COME TO AN END (A BAD END); FEEL BAD; FROM BAD TO WORSE; GIVE A BAD NAME TO; GIVE BAD MARKS TO; GO BAD; IN A BAD MOOD; IN A BAD WAY; IN BAD FAITH; IN BAD WITH; IN SOMEONE’S BAD GRACES; LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE’S MOUTH; MAKE THE BEST OF (A BAD BARGAIN); NOT A BAD SORT; NOT BAD; POOR (BAD) TASTE; ROTTEN (BAD) APPLE; RUN OF (BAD) LUCK; TOO BAD; TURN UP (LIKE A BAD PENNY); WITH BAD GRACE.

  bad blood Anger or hostility between persons or groups, as in There’s been bad blood between the two families for years. This term is based on the old association with blood and emotion, particularly anger. Versions such as ill blood preceded it; Charles Lamb was among the first to use the idiom in its current form in an 1823 essay.

  bad egg An individual who turns out to be rotten, as in You can’t trust him—he’s simply a bad egg. Although egg had been used for various kinds of person (young, good, bad) since Shakespeare’s day, this transfer of a seemingly wholesome food that, when opened, turns out to be rotten took place only in the mid-1800s. An early definition appeared in The Atheneum of 1864: “A bad egg... a fellow who had not proved to be as good as his promise.” In contrast, the schoolyard saying Last one in is a rotten egg does not have any special significance other than as a way of urging others to join an activity, jump in the water, or the like. Also see GOOD EGG.

  badger game An extortion scheme in which a man is lured into a compromising position, usually by a woman, and then is “discovered” and blackmailed by her associate. For example, The prosecutor accused the couple of playing the badger game. The term alludes to the much older sport of badger-baiting, in which a live badger was trapped and put inside a box and dogs were set on it to drag it out. The woman in the scheme is the “badger.” [Late 1800s]

  bad hair day A day when one’s appearance, especially one’s hair, does not look attractive. For example, What have I done to upset Martha? Nothing, she’s just having a bad hair day. Originating as a humorous statement, this term was soon broadened to mean simply having a bad day, that is, a day when everything seems to go wrong. [Late 1980s] Also see NOT ONE’S DAY.

  bad luck → See under RUN OF LUCK.

  badly off → See BAD OFF.

  bad mouth Disparage or criticize unduly, malign, as in Why do you constantly bad mouth your colleagues? This term is believed to be of African origin, where the phrase bad mouth signifies a curse or evil spell. [1930s]

  bad name → See GIVE A BAD NAME TO.

  bad news 1. An unwelcome thing or person, trouble. For example, That fire was bad news; we were underinsured for the damage, or No one wants Mary on the board—she’s bad news. This term transfers literal bad news—the report of an unhappy recent event—to an unwanted or undesirable individual or circumstance. [Slang; 1920s] 2. The amount charged for something, as in Waiter, bring our check—I want to see the bad news. [Slang; 1920s]

  bad off Also, badly off. In unfortunate circumstances, poor. For example, Her husband’s death left her bad off, or She had her pension and wasn’t too badly off. The first term is colloquial. [Early 1800s] Also see WELL OFF.

  bad sort, a An unpleasant, mean person, as in We cautioned Bill about his friend, who was clearly a bad sort. The antonym is a good sort, a pleasant, kind person, as in She’s a good sort, always helping her neighbors. The latter is stronger than not a bad sort, as in He seems ill-tempered now and then, but he’s not a bad sort. All three terms use a sort in the sense of “kind of person.” [Second half of 1800s]

  bad taste → See LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE’S MOUTH; POOR TASTE.

  bad trip A frightening or otherwise very unpleasant experience, as in Given the poor turnout, her book tour was a bad trip. The term comes from drug slang of the mid-1900s, where it meant ex­periencing hallucinations, pain, or other terrible ­ef­fects from taking a drug, especially LSD. It was then extended to any extremely unpleasant experience.

  bag → In addition to the idioms beginning with BAG, also see BROWN BAGGER; GRAB BAG; IN THE BAG; LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG; LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG; MIXED BAG.

  bag and baggage All of one’s belongings, especially with reference to departing with them; completely, totally. For example, The day be quit his job, John walked out, bag and baggage. Originating in the 1400s, this phrase at first meant an army’s property, and to march off bag and baggage meant that the departing army was not leaving anything behind for the enemy’s use. By the late 1500s, it had been transferred to other belongings.

  bag it 1. Pack things in a bag, as in “Please bag it,” the customer said to the checkout clerk. This ­usage mainly describes packing groceries or other ­purchases into a bag. [Colloquial; late 1500s] 2. Abandon something or someone, quit. For example, The class is not very good, so I’ve decided to bag it. This idiom first became widespread among students. [Colloquial; 1960s] 3. Be quiet, stop doing something, go away. For example, I’ve heard enough about that, so just bag it! [Slang; 1960s]

  bag of tricks One’s stock of resources and stratagems, as in Mom can fix anything—you never know what she will pull out of her bag of tricks. ­Alluding to the magician’s bag of equipment for performing magic tricks, this term was first recorded in 1694, when Jean de La Fontaine, in one of his fables, has a fox carry a sac des ruses (“bag of tricks”).

  bail → In addition to the idiom beginning with BAIL, also see MAKE BAIL; OUT ON BAIL; SKIP BAIL.

  bail out 1. Empty water out of a boat, usually by dipping with a bucket or other container. For example, We had to keep bailing out water from this leaky canoe. [Early 1600s] 2. Rescue someone in an emergency, especially a financial crisis of some kind, as in They were counting on an inheritance to bail them out. [Colloquial; 1900s] 3. Jump out of an airplane, using a parachute. For example, When the s
econd engine sputtered, the pilot decided to bail out. [c. 1930] 4. Give up on something, abandon a responsibility, as in The company was not doing well, so John decided to bail out while he could still find another job. [Second half of 1900s] 5. See MAKE BAIL.

  bait → In addition to the idiom beginning with BAIT, also see FISH OR CUT BAIT; JUMP AT (THE BAIT); RISE TO THE BAIT.

  bait and switch A deceptive commercial practice in which customers are induced to visit a store by an advertised sale item and then are told that it is out of stock or that it is far inferior to some more expensive item. For example, I won’t buy a car from this outfit; they’re notorious for their bait and switch tactics. The verb to bait has meant to supply a hook or trap with a morsel of food so as to attract a fish or animal since about 1300; the verb to switch has meant to change, alter, or transfer from one thing to another since the 1890s. The pairing of the two, however, dates only from the 1920s, ­although the practice is surely much older. It is called switch-selling in Britain.

  baker’s dozen Thirteen, as in The new bagel store always gives you a baker’s dozen. The origins of this term are disputed. One theory is that in times when bread was sold by weight, bakers who short-weighted their customers were heavily fined, and for safety’s sake they would sell thirteen loaves for the price of twelve. Another theory is that dealers purchasing bread from bakers were allowed by law to receive thirteen loaves for the price of twelve, the thirteenth representing their cut of profit. [Late 1500s]

  balance → In addition to the idiom beginning with BALANCE, also see CHECKS AND BALANCES; HANG IN THE BALANCE; OFF BALANCE; ON BALANCE; REDRESS THE BALANCE; STRIKE A BALANCE; TIP THE BALANCE.

  balance the books 1. Add up the debits and credits of an account and determine the difference; also, bring the two sides into equilibrium. For example, It’s Joe’s job to balance the books each quarter. [Late 1500s] 2. Settle an account by paying what is due, as in We can’t balance the books till your last check clears. [Early 1700s]