Definition of back

backnoun
lưng, về phía sau, trở lại
/bak/

The word "back" has a rich etymology. It originated from Old English "bac", which referred to the rear or posterior part of something, such as an animal's back or a boat's stern. This Old English word is derived from Proto-Germanic "*bakiz", which is also the source of Modern German "Rücken", Dutch "rug", and Swedish "rygg". In Middle English (circa 1100-1500), the word "back" began to take on additional meanings, including the idea of providing support or protection, as in "to have someone's back". This sense of the word is likely due to the idea of shielding or covering someone's rear or vulnerable parts. Over time, the word "back" has evolved to encompass a wide range of meanings, from a physical location to a idea or concept. But its core sense of referring to the rear or posterior part of something has remained a constant thread throughout its history.

Summary

danh từ

lưng (người, vật)
example

to back a car into the garage: lùi ôtô vào nhà xe
example

to step back a pace: lùi lại một bước
example

back street: phố vắng vẻ, phố lẻ
meaning

ván lưng, ván ngựa (ghế)
example

to back someone up: ủng hộ ai bằng mọi cách
meaning

đằng sau

to back out of a bargain: đã thoả thuận xong xuôi rồi lại nuốt lời
example

to send back: gửi trả lại
example

to bow back: cái chào trả lại
type

tính từ

sau; hậu

to back a car into the garage: lùi ôtô vào nhà xe
example

to step back a pace: lùi lại một bước
example

back street: phố vắng vẻ, phố lẻ
meaning

còn chịu lại, còn nợ lại
example

to back someone up: ủng hộ ai bằng mọi cách
meaning

để quá hạn, cũ, đã qua
example

to back out of a bargain: đã thoả thuận xong xuôi rồi lại nuốt lời
example

to send back: gửi trả lại
example

to bow back: cái chào trả lại

part of body

the part of the human body that is on the opposite side to the chest, between the neck and the tops of the legs; the part of an animal’s body that corresponds to this

bộ phận cơ thể con người nằm đối diện với ngực, giữa cổ và đỉnh hai chân; phần cơ thể của động vật tương ứng với điều này

Example:

He was lying on his back on the sofa.
Anh đang nằm ngửa trên ghế sofa.
Do you sleep on your back or your front?
Bạn ngủ ngửa hay nằm ngửa?
She was standing with her back to the camera so you can't see her face.
Cô ấy đứng quay lưng về phía camera nên bạn không thể nhìn thấy mặt cô ấy.
They had their hands tied behind their backs.
Họ bị trói tay ra sau lưng.
They set off with the wind at their backs (= behind them).
Họ khởi hành với gió ở phía sau (= đằng sau họ).
your lower/upper back
lưng dưới/trên của bạn
I have a nagging pain in my lower back.
Tôi bị đau dai dẳng ở lưng dưới.
Most of the victims were shot in the back.
Hầu hết các nạn nhân đều bị bắn vào lưng.
a bad (= painful) back
lưng xấu (= đau)
I pulled (= injured the muscles in) my back playing squash.
Tôi đã kéo (= bị thương các cơ ở) lưng khi chơi bóng quần.
She was laid up with severe back pain.
Cô ấy phải nằm liệt giường vì đau lưng dữ dội.
A small boy rode on the elephant's back.
Một cậu bé cưỡi trên lưng con voi.

Extra examples:

He stood with his back to the door.
Anh đứng quay lưng về phía cửa.
a back massage
mát xa lưng
He was carrying a small child on his back.
Trên lưng anh đang cõng một đứa trẻ nhỏ.
They blindfolded him and tied his hands behind his back.
Họ bịt mắt anh và trói tay anh ra sau lưng.
He was standing with his back to the fire.
Anh ta đang đứng quay lưng về phía ngọn lửa.

Related words and phrases

the row of bones in the middle of the back

hàng xương ở giữa lưng

Example:

She broke her back in a riding accident.
Cô ấy bị gãy lưng trong một tai nạn cưỡi ngựa.
He spent six months recovering from a broken back.
Anh ấy đã phải mất sáu tháng để hồi phục sau khi bị gãy lưng.
He put his back out (= dislocated something in his back) lifting the crates.
Anh ấy đưa lưng ra ngoài (= trật khớp thứ gì đó ở lưng) nâng thùng.

Related words and phrases

part furthest from front

the part or area of something that is furthest from the front

phần hoặc khu vực của một cái gì đó là xa nhất từ phía trước

Example:

She was hit on the back of the head.
Cô ấy bị đánh vào phía sau đầu.
He kicked the ball straight into the back of the net.
Anh sút bóng thẳng vào lưới.
The man was refusing to go to the back of the queue.
Người đàn ông từ chối đi về phía sau hàng đợi.
The house has three bedrooms at the front and two at the back.
Ngôi nhà có ba phòng ngủ ở phía trước và hai phòng ngủ ở phía sau.
We could only get seats at the back (= of a room).
Chúng tôi chỉ có thể có được chỗ ngồi ở phía sau (= của một căn phòng).
There's room for three people in the back (= of a car, etc.).
Có chỗ cho ba người ở phía sau (= của một chiếc ô tô, v.v.).
There's room for three people in back.
Có chỗ cho ba người ở phía sau.
Come around the back (= to the area behind the house) and I'll show you the garden.
Đi vòng ra phía sau (= đến khu vực phía sau ngôi nhà) và tôi sẽ chỉ cho bạn khu vườn.

Extra examples:

He was shot in the back of the knee.
Anh ta bị bắn vào phía sau đầu gối.
I found some old photos at the back of the drawer.
Tôi tìm thấy một số bức ảnh cũ ở phía sau ngăn kéo.
They were sitting in the back of the truck.
Họ đang ngồi ở phía sau xe tải.
My money's all fallen down the back of the cushion.
Tiền của tôi rơi hết xuống phía sau đệm rồi.
The cup had been pushed to the back of the cupboard.
Chiếc cốc đã được đẩy vào phía sau tủ.

Related words and phrases

of piece of paper

the part of a piece of paper, etc. that is on the opposite side to the one that has information or the most important information on it

phần của một tờ giấy, v.v... nằm ở phía đối diện với phần có thông tin hoặc thông tin quan trọng nhất trên đó

Example:

Take a card and write your name on the back.
Lấy một tấm thẻ và viết tên của bạn ở mặt sau.
He scribbled some figures on the back of an envelope.
Anh ấy viết nguệch ngoạc một số con số ở mặt sau của một phong bì.

of book

the last few pages of a book, etc.

vài trang cuối cùng của một cuốn sách, v.v.

Example:

The television guide is at the back of the paper.
Hướng dẫn sử dụng tivi nằm ở mặt sau của tờ báo.
The answer key is in the back of the book.
Đáp án nằm ở phía sau cuốn sách.
The article I mentioned is in that magazine—towards the back I think.
Bài báo tôi đề cập nằm trên tạp chí đó—tôi nghĩ là ở phía sau.
The arts page is usually towards the back of the newspaper.
Trang nghệ thuật thường nằm ở cuối tờ báo.

of chair

the part of a chair, etc. against which you lean your back

phần của một chiếc ghế, v.v... mà bạn tựa lưng vào đó

-backed

used to describe furniture that has the type of back mentioned

được sử dụng để mô tả đồ nội thất có loại mặt sau được đề cập

Example:

a high-backed sofa
một chiếc ghế sofa có lưng cao

in sport

a player whose main role is to defend their team’s goal

một cầu thủ có vai trò chính là bảo vệ khung thành của đội mình

Related words and phrases

Idioms

at/in the back of your mind

if a thought, etc. is at the back of your mind, you are aware of it but it is not what you are mainly thinking about

At the back of my mind was a small, warning voice, telling me it was wrong.

The problem was always at the back of my mind.

somebody's back is turned

when somebody's back is turned they are not present and not able to see what is happening

Officers are ready to issue a parking ticket as soon as a driver's back is turned.

the back of beyond

(informal)a place that is a long way from other houses, towns, etc.

We stayed in some farmhouse in the back of beyond.

(on the) back of an envelope

used to talk about planning or calculating something in a way that is not detailed, exact or complete

We added up our savings on the back of an envelope.

back-of-the-envelope calculations

back to back

if two people stand or sit back to back, they stand or sit with their backs facing or touching each other

The children sat back to back so they couldn't see each others' drawings.

if two or more things happen back to back, they happen one after the other

The team had to play three games back to back.

back to front

if you put on a piece of clothing back to front, you make a mistake and put the back where the front should be

I think you've got that sweater on back to front.

be glad, etc. to see the back of somebody/something

(informal, especially British English)to be happy that you will not have to deal with or see somebody/something again because you do not like them or it

Was I pleased to see the back of her!

I can’t wait to see the back of that old car.

behind somebody’s back

without somebody’s knowledge or permission

Have you been talking about me behind my back?

They went ahead and sold it behind my back.

People say bad things about him behind his back, but never to his face.

be on somebody’s back

(informal)to keep asking or telling somebody to do something that they do not want to do, in a way that they find annoying

He’s still on my back about that money I borrowed.

break the back of something

to finish the largest or most important part of a task

I want to break the back of this translation before the weekend.

cover your back

to realize that you may be blamed or criticized for something later and take action to avoid this

Get everything in writing in order to cover your back.

get/put somebody’s back up

(informal)to annoy somebody

That sort of attitude really gets my back up!

get off somebody’s back

(informal)to stop annoying somebody, for example by criticizing them, or asking them to do something

Just get off my back, will you!

have (got) somebody’s back

(North American English, informal)to protect and support somebody

Don't worry, I've got your back.

I’m loyal and I’ve got your back.

have your back to the wall

(informal)to be in a difficult situation in which you are forced to do something but are unable to make the choices that you would like

We had our backs to the wall with no choice but to sell.

have eyes in the back of your head

to be aware of everything that is happening around you, even things that seem difficult or impossible to see

You can’t get away with anything in her class. She has eyes in the back of her head.

know somebody/something inside out | know somebody/something like the back of your hand

(informal)to be very familiar with somebody/something

This is where I grew up. I know this area like the back of my hand.

the last/final straw | the straw that breaks the camel’s back

the last in a series of bad events, etc. that makes it impossible for you to accept a situation any longer

make a rod for your own back

to do something that will cause problems for you in the future

off the back of something

immediately after something

They come into this game off the back of a 1–0 defeat to Chelsea.

off/on the back of something

as a result of an achievement or a success

The profits growth came on the back of a 26 per cent rise in sales.

off the back of a lorry

(British English, informal, humorous)goods that fell off the back of a lorry were probably stolen. People say or accept that they came ‘off the back of a lorry’ to avoid saying or asking where they really came from.

(flat) on your back

(informal)in bed because you are ill

She's been flat on her back for over a week now.

The UK market was flat on its back (= business was very bad).

a pat on the back (for something/for doing something)

(informal)praise or approval for something that you have done well

He deserves a pat on the back for all his hard work.

Give yourself a pat on the back!

pat somebody/yourself on the back

(informal)to praise somebody or yourself for doing something well

push something to the back of your mind

to try to forget about something unpleasant

I tried to push the thought to the back of my mind.

put your back into something

to use a lot of effort and energy on a particular task

the shirt off somebody’s back

anything that somebody has, including the things they really need themselves, that somebody else takes from them or they are willing to give

He was the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back.

a stab in the back

(informal)an act that harms somebody, done by a person they thought was a friend

Her refusal to support his campaign was a real stab in the back.

stab somebody in the back

to do or say something that harms somebody who trusts you

turn your back

to turn so that you are facing in the opposite direction

turn your back on somebody/something

to move so that you are standing or sitting with your back facing somebody/something

When on stage, try not to turn your back on the audience.

to reject somebody/something that you have previously been connected with

She turned her back on them when they needed her.

Some newspapers have turned their backs on discussion and argument.

She decided to turn her back on Paris and return home.

watch your back

to protect yourself against danger

She'd better watch her back if she wants to hold onto the top job.

(like) water off a duck’s back

(informal)used to say that something, especially criticism, has no effect on somebody/something

I can't tell my son what to do; it's water off a duck's back with him.

you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours

(saying)used to say that if somebody helps you, you will help them, even if this is unfair to others

Definition of back

backnounlưng, về phía sau, trở lại/bak/

Related words and phrases

Idioms

backnoun
lưng, về phía sau, trở lại
/bak/