back the right horse
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
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back the wrong horse
To support or choose the wrong option or person
back to back
happening one after the other without a break
back to square one
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
back to the wall
In a difficult or desperate situation
back up
to support or confirm something
back up
His back is up, i.e. he is offended or angry; an expression or idea taken from a cat; that animal, when angry, always raising its back. An allusion also sometimes used to jeer a crooked man; as, So, Sir, I see somebody has offended you, for your back is up.
back up the truck
To stop or slow down a process or activity
back-butt
Buttocks.
back-cloth star
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
back-end
That portion of the year which commences with October. This phrase is peculiar to the turf, and has its origin in the fact that October was actually, and is now nearly, the finishing portion of the racing season. Towards BACK-END the punters and "little men" generally begin to look forward with anxiety to their winter prospects, and "going for the gloves" is not only a frequent phrase, but a frequently recurring practice.
back-hander
A blow on the face with the back of the hand, a back-handed tip. Also a drink out of turn, as when a greedy person delays the decanter to get a second glass. Anything done slyly or secretly is said to be done in a back-handed manner.
backdoor trots
Diarrhea.
backed
Dead. He wishes to have the senior, or old square-toes, backed; he longs to have his father on six men's shoulders; that is, carrying to the grave.
backer
One who places his money on a particular man or animal; a supporter of one side in a contest. The great body of betting men is divided into BOOKMAKERS and BACKERS.
backgate
The anus.
backhanded compliment
a compliment that is actually insulting
backroom boys
A name given familiarly to the scientists and others who, unknown to the general public, devised and developed in their studies and laboratories methods of scientific warfare. The name has since been applied generally to such unknown workers in all branches of technology.
backslums
The byeways and disreputable portions of a town.
backstairs influence
Private or unrecog- nized influence, especially at Court. Royal palaces have more than one staircase, and those who sought the sovereign upon private matters would use one in an unobtrusive position; it was, therefore, highly desirable to conciliate the servants or underlings in charge of the "back stairs.
backward blessing
A curse. To say the Lord's Prayer backwards was to invoke the devil.
backwards and forwards
Knowing something very well
bacon
He has saved his bacon; he has escaped. He has a good voice to beg bacon; a saying in ridicule of a bad voice.
bacon
The body, "to save one’s BACON," to escape.
bacon and eggs
a traditional breakfast dish
Baconian Philosophy
A system of philosophy based on principles laid down by Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam, in the 2nd book of his
Baconian Theory
The theory that Lord Bacon wrote the plays attributed to Shake- speare.
Bactrian Sage
Zoroaster, or Zarathrusthra, the founder of the Perso-Iranian religion, who is supposed to have flourished in Bactria (the modern Balkh) before 800 B.C.
bad
"to go to the bad," to deteriorate in character, to be ruined. Virgil has an almost similar phrase, in pejus ruere, which means, by the way, to go to the worse.
bad actor
A person or entity causing trouble or problems
bad apple
Bad entity.
bad bargain
One of his majesty's bad bargains; a worthless soldier, a malingeror. See MALINGEROR.
bad blood
A lasting feeling of hatred or anger between individuals or groups
bad blood
Vindictiveness, ill-feeling; hence, to make bad blood, or to stir up bad blood, to create or renew ill-feeling and a vindictive spirit.
bad books
in someone's disfavor
bad business
An unprofitable or unsuccessful venture
bad company
People who have a negative influence on others
bad egg
A person who is unpleasant or untrustworthy
bad egg
A scoundrel or rascal.
bad egg
A disreputable character; a thoroughly bad fellow. A bad excuse is better than none. An adage that first appeared in Nicolas Udall's Ralph Roister Bolster (1541), the first comedy written for the English stage.
bad for somebody
harmful or unfavorable to someone
bad hair day
a day when everything goes wrong
bad iron
A person considered worthless or useless
bad is the best choice
The least undesirable option is chosen
bad joke
Something unpleasant or of poor quality
bad looker
Someone who is unattractive
bad lot
A term derived from auctioneering slang, and now generally used to describe a man or woman of indifferent morals.
bad money drives out good
Less desirable options displace more desirable ones
bad news
Unwelcome or unpleasant information
bad news bears
a person or thing that consistently brings bad news
bad news travels fast
Unwelcome information spreads quickly
bad old days
A time in the past that was unpleasant or difficult
bad penny
A person who consistently causes trouble or difficulty
bad taste in one's mouth
a lingering feeling of disgust or distaste
bad thing
An undesirable or unfortunate event
bad trip
A disturbing or unpleasant experience
bad trot
a person with unpleasant or annoying behavior
bad word
a swear word or profanity
bad words
Words not always bad of themselves but unpleasant to "ears polite," from their vulgar associations.
badge
A term used for one burned in the hand. He has got his badge, and piked; he was burned in the hand, and is at liberty. Cant.
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