backstab

English

Etymology

From back +‎ stab.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbækˌstæb/

Verb

backstab (third-person singular simple present backstabs, present participle backstabbing, simple past and past participle backstabbed)

1. (transitive) To attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly in a deceitful, underhand, or treacherous manner, especially when they're not present in the place or situation that it happens.

   Synonym: stab in the back

Derived terms

• backstabbee
• backstabber
• backstabby

Translations

to attack someone (especially verbally) unfairly

Chinese: Mandarin: 背叛 (zh) (bèipàn) Finnish: puukottaa selkään German: hintergehen (de) Italian: colpire alle spalle Japanese: 裏切る (ja) (うらぎる, uragiru) Russian: напада́ть исподтишка́ impf (napadátʹ ispodtišká), напа́сть исподтишка́ pf (napástʹ ispodtišká), ударя́ть в спи́ну impf (udarjátʹ v spínu), уда́рить в спи́ну pf (udáritʹ v spínu) Swedish: ge någon en dolkstöt c, ge någon ett svinhugg n, hugga i ryggen

Noun

backstab (plural backstabs)

1. An act of backstabbing.

   Synonym: stab in the back

   • 2016, Mauro Paulino, Forensic Psychology of Spousal Violence, London: Academic Press, →ISBN, page 160:

     After this conversation I was shocked; he asked me to leave the car so he would stay with her alone. Everything fell on me, I felt my body heavy and my heart beating very fast. It was such a backstab that it still hurts today.

Anagrams

• backtabs