backstabber

English

Etymology

From back +‎ stabber.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbækˌstæbɚ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

backstabber (plural backstabbers)

1. A traitor or hypocrite, such as a co-worker or friend assumed trustworthy but who figuratively attacks when one's back is turned.

   Synonyms: double-crosser, snake in the grass; see also Thesaurus:betrayer

   Antonym: backstabbee

   Hyponym: smiling assassin

Related terms

• stab in the back

Translations

a traitor or hypocrite

Bulgarian: скрита опасност f (skrita opasnost) Chinese: Mandarin: 负心人 (fùxīnrén) Dutch: matennaaier (nl) (literally “buddy fucker”), NSB'er m Finnish: liero (fi), selkäänpuukottaja, petturi (fi) French: hypocrite (fr), serpent (fr) m, faux jeton (fr) m, faux frère (fr) m German: Verräter (de) Greek: φίδι (el) n (fídi) Hindi: आस्तीन का सांप (āstīn kā sāmp) Icelandic: eiturnaðra f, rógberi m, slanga í paradís f Indonesian: munafik (id) Italian: ipocrita (it) Japanese: 裏切り者 (ja) (uragirimono) Polish: żmija (pl) f Russian: змея́ подколо́дная (ru) f (zmejá podkolódnaja) Spanish: traidor (es) m, mosca muerta f (colloquial), mosquita muerta (es) f (colloquial)