back
noun/bæk/
/bæk/
Idioms 
enlarge imagethe 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（人体或动物的）背部，背；腰背 - on your back He was lying on his back on the sofa.
他仰面躺在沙发上。 - Do you sleep on your back or your front?
你睡觉是仰着还是趴着？ - with your back to somebody/something She was standing with her back to the camera so you can't see her face.
她当时背对摄像机站着，所以你看不到她的脸。 - behind your back They had their hands tied behind their backs.
他们双手被反剪起来。 - at your back They set off with the wind at their backs (= behind them).
他们乘着风出发了。 - your lower/upper back
你的下／上背部 - in your/the back I have a nagging pain in my lower back.
我后腰老是疼。 - Most of the victims were shot in the back.
大多数受害者都是背部中枪的。 - a bad (= painful) back
背痛 - I pulled (= injured the muscles in) my back playing squash.
我打壁球时拉伤了背部肌肉。 - She was laid up with severe back pain.
她因严重的背痛而卧床不起。 - A small boy rode on the elephant's back.
一个小男孩骑在大象背上。
Collocations Physical appearancePhysical appearancesee also bareback, horseback- A person may be described as having:
- (bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
- deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
- small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
- piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
- bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
- bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
- long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
- a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
- a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
- full/thick/thin/pouty lips
- dry/chapped/cracked lips
- flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
- soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
- white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
- a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
- a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
- a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
- a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache
- pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
- dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
- a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
- deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
- blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(British English) ginger/grey hair
- straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
- thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
- dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
- long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
- a bald/balding/shaved head
- a receding hairline
- a bald patch/spot
- a side/centre(British English) parting
- a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
- broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
- a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
- a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
- a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
- big/wide/narrow/slim hips
- a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
- thin/slender/muscular arms
- big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
- long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
- long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
- muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
- big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
- a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure
- be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
Extra ExamplesTopics Bodya1- He stood with his back to the door.
他背对着门站着。 - a back massage
背部按摩 - He was carrying a small child on his back.
他背着一个小孩。 - They blindfolded him and tied his hands behind his back.
他们蒙上了他的眼睛，把他的手绑在背后。 - He was standing with his back to the fire.
他背对着炉火站着。 - He smiled and gave me a hearty slap on the back.
他笑了笑，亲切地拍了一下我的背。 - He yawned and stretched his back as he got out of bed.
他起床时打着哈欠伸着懒腰。 - The cat arched its back and hissed at the dog.
猫弓起身子，冲着狗咝咝地叫。 - He hunches his back when he walks.
他走路时背弓着。 - His back stiffened as he saw the photographers waiting.
看到摄影师等着，他挺直了身板。 - He leaned his back against the bar.
他背靠着吧台。 - He's in bed with a bad back.
他后背疼痛卧病在床。 - I was flat on my back for six weeks when I broke my leg.
我摔断腿后在床上躺了 6 周。 - She felt a sharp pain in the small of her back.
她感到腰部一阵剧痛。 - The sun beat down on their bare backs.
太阳火辣辣地照射在他们赤裸的背上。 - Would you give me a back rub?
你能给我按摩一下后背吗？ - I need a seat with good back support.
我需要一个有良好靠背支撑的座椅。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- broad
- slender
- muscular
- …
- bend
- hunch
- straighten
- …
- arch
- stiffen
- straighten
- …
- injury
- pain
- trouble
- …
- behind somebody’s back
- flat on your back
- on your back
- …
- somebody’s back is turned
- back to back
- a pat on the back
- …
- on your back He was lying on his back on the sofa.
- the row of bones in the middle of the back
脊柱；脊梁骨 - She broke her back in a riding accident.
她在一次骑马事故中摔断了脊梁骨。 - He spent six months recovering from a broken back.
他脊柱骨折，花了六个月时间康复。 - He put his back out (= dislocated something in his back) lifting the crates.
他搬大木箱时脊椎脱了臼。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- broad
- slender
- muscular
- …
- bend
- hunch
- straighten
- …
- arch
- stiffen
- straighten
- …
- injury
- pain
- trouble
- …
- behind somebody’s back
- flat on your back
- on your back
- …
- somebody’s back is turned
- back to back
- a pat on the back
- …
- She broke her back in a riding accident.
- [usually singular] the part or area of something that is furthest from the front
后部；后面；末尾 - She was hit on the back of the head.
她的后脑部被击中。 - He kicked the ball straight into the back of the net.
他把球直接踢进了网窝。 - The man was refusing to go to the back of the queue.
那个人拒绝到后面排队。 - at the back The house has three bedrooms at the front and two at the back.
房屋正面有三间卧室，后面两间。 - We could only get seats at the back (= of a room).
我们只能找到后排的座位。 - in the back (British English) There's room for three people in the back (= of a car, etc.).
后排的空间可容三人。 - in back (North American English) There's room for three people in back.
后排的空间可容三人。 - around the back Come around the back (= to the area behind the house) and I'll show you the garden.
到房子后面来，我带你看看花园。
Which Word? at the back / at the rear / behindat the back / at the rear / behind- At the back and at the rear have a similar meaning, but at the rear is used more in formal or official language:
- What’s that at the back of the fridge?
冰箱尽里头那东西是什么？ - Smoking is only allowed at the rear of the aircraft.
只有飞机后舱允许抽烟。
- Our room was at the back of the hotel
我们的房间在旅馆靠后面的地方。
- There’s a lovely wood just behind our hotel
在我们旅馆的后面就有一片美丽的树林。
- What’s that at the back of the fridge?
Extra Examples- He was shot in the back of the knee.
他膝盖后面中弹。 - I found some old photos at the back of the drawer.
我在抽屉后面发现了一些旧照片。 - They were sitting in the back of the truck.
他们坐在卡车后面。 - My money's all fallen down the back of the cushion.
我的钱都从垫子后面掉下去了。 - The cup had been pushed to the back of the cupboard.
杯子给推到橱柜后部去了。 - Two passengers sat in the back of the car.
两名乘客坐在轿车的后排。
Oxford Collocations Dictionarypreposition- around back
- around the back
- round the back
- …
- back to front
- She was hit on the back of the head.
- [usually singular] 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
（文件等的）背面 - on the back Take a card and write your name on the back.
拿一张卡片，在背面写上你的名字。 - on the back of something He scribbled some figures on the back of an envelope.
他在信封背面潦草地写了一些数字。
- on the back Take a card and write your name on the back.
- [usually singular] the last few pages of a book, etc.
（书等的）最后几页，末尾 - at the back (of something) The television guide is at the back of the paper.
电视节目指南在报纸的末尾。 - in the back (of something) The answer key is in the back of the book.
答案就在书的后面。 - towards the back (of something) The article I mentioned is in that magazine—towards the back I think.
我提到的那篇文章是在那本杂志上的——我想是在背面。 - The arts page is usually towards the back of the newspaper.
艺术版通常排在报纸的后几版。
- at the back (of something) The television guide is at the back of the paper.
- the part of a chair, etc. against which you lean your back
enlarge image（椅子等的）靠背 - (in adjectives) used to describe furniture that has the type of back mentioned
（家具）…靠背的 - a high-backed sofa
高靠背沙发
- a high-backed sofa
- (in some sports) a player whose main role is to defend their team’s goal
后卫
part of body
part furthest from front
of piece of paper
of book
of chair
-backed
in sport
Word OriginOld English bæc, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch and Old Norse bak. The adverb use dates from late Middle English and is a shortening of aback.
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
在潜意识里；依稀记得 - At the back of my mind was a small, warning voice, telling me it was wrong.
我的脑海深处有一个微小的警告声音，告诉我这是错误的。 - The problem was always at the back of my mind.
这个问题我一直记着。
- At the back of my mind was a small, warning voice, telling me it was wrong.
somebody's back is turned
- when somebody's back is turned they are not present and not able to see what is happening
当某人不在场的时候 - Officers are ready to issue a parking ticket as soon as a driver's back is turned.
一旦司机转身，警察就准备开出停车罚单。
- 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.
偏僻地方；边远地区 - We stayed in some farmhouse in the back of beyond.
我们住在后面的一些农舍里。
- 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
未经慎密思考的 - We added up our savings on the back of an envelope.
我们把我们的积蓄写在信封背面。 - back-of-the-envelope calculations
粗略计算
- We added up our savings on the back of an envelope.
back to back
- if two people stand or sit back to back, they stand or sit with their backs facing or touching each other
背靠背；背对背 - The children sat back to back so they couldn't see each others' drawings.
孩子背对背坐着， 以免看见彼此的画。
- 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
接连地；接二连三 - The team had to play three games back to back.
球队必须背靠背打三场比赛。
- The team had to play three games back to back.
back to front (British English)
(North American English backwards)
- if you put on a piece of clothing back to front, you make a mistake and put the back where the front should be
（衣服）前后颠倒（或前后穿反） - I think you've got that sweater on back to front.
我觉得你把毛衣前后穿反了。
- 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
庆幸终于摆脱（不喜欢的人或事物） - Was I pleased to see the back of her!
真高兴不会再见到她了！ - I can’t wait to see the back of that old car.
我迫不及待地想看看那辆旧车的后面。
- Was I pleased to see the back of her!
behind somebody’s back
- without somebody’s knowledge or permission
背着某人；背地里；私下 - Have you been talking about me behind my back?
你们是不是在背后说我的闲话？ - They went ahead and sold it behind my back.
他们径自背着我把它卖了。 - People say bad things about him behind his back, but never to his face.
人们在背后说他的坏话，但从不当面说。
- Have you been talking about me behind my back?
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
缠磨；烦扰 - He’s still on my back about that money I borrowed.
他仍然对我借的钱耿耿于怀。
- 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
完成（任务等的）主要部分 - I want to break the back of this translation before the weekend.
我想在周末之前把这个翻译的背部打破。
- I want to break the back of this translation before the weekend.
cover your back (informal)
(North American English also cover your ass offensive, slang)
- to realize that you may be blamed or criticized for something later and take action to avoid this
粉饰污点；防止可预见的指责 - Get everything in writing in order to cover your back.
一切都要立字为据，以绝后患。
- Get everything in writing in order to cover your back.
get/put somebody’s back up
- (informal) to annoy somebody
激怒，招惹（某人） - That sort of attitude really gets my back up!
那种态度实在叫我恼火！
- 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
不再烦扰某人（如停止批评或缠磨等） - Just get off my back, will you!
请别烦我了好吗！
- Just get off my back, will you!
have (got) somebody’s back
- (North American English, informal) to protect and support somebody
保护，支持（某人） - Don't worry, I've got your back.
别担心，我支持你。 - I’m loyal and I’ve got your back.
我很忠诚，我会支持你。
- Don't worry, 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
处于背水一战的境地；没有退路 - We had our backs to the wall with no choice but to sell.
我们走投无路，别无选择，只能卖掉。
- 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
脑后长眼；眼光敏锐；什么都能觉察到 - You can’t get away with anything in her class. She has eyes in the back of her head.
在她的课堂上你无法逃脱任何惩罚。她的后脑勺长着眼睛。
- 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
（对…）极为熟悉，了如指掌 - This is where I grew up. I know this area like the back of my hand.
我在这儿长大的，我对这地方再熟悉不过了。
- 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
压垮骆驼的最后一根稻草；终于使人不堪忍受的最后一件事（或因素等）
make a rod for your own back
- to do something that will cause problems for you in the future
自找麻烦；自讨苦吃
off the back of something (informal)
- immediately after something
就在…之后；一…就 - They come into this game off the back of a 1–0 defeat to Chelsea.
他们刚以 0 比 1 输给切尔西队就去参加这场比赛。
- 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
由于（某项成就） - The profits growth came on the back of a 26 per cent rise in sales.
利润增长来自 26% 的销售额增长。
- 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.
（指货物等）来路不明
(flat) on your back
- (informal) in bed because you are ill
因病卧床；卧病 - She's been flat on her back for over a week now.
她卧病有一个多星期了。 - (figurative) The UK market was flat on its back (= business was very bad).
（当时）英国的市场十分不景气。
- She's been flat on her back for over a week now.
a pat on the back (for something/for doing something)
- (informal) praise or approval for something that you have done well
表扬；赞许 - He deserves a pat on the back for all his hard work.
他工作兢兢业业，值得嘉许。 - Give yourself a pat on the back!
表扬一下自己吧！
- He deserves a pat on the back for all his hard work.
pat somebody/yourself on the back
- (informal) to praise somebody or yourself for doing something well
表扬，称赞（某人或自己）
push something to the back of your mind
- to try to forget about something unpleasant
刻意忘掉（不愉快的事）；把…丢到脑后 - I tried to push the thought to the back of my mind.
我尽量把这个念头忘掉。
- 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
全力以赴
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
（别人拿走或自愿送掉的）全部家当 - He was the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back.
他是那种愿意把衬衫脱下来给你的人。
- 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
背后捅刀子；对给予信任的人的陷害（或中伤） - Her refusal to support his campaign was a real stab in the back.
她拒绝支持他的竞选活动真是背后捅刀子。
- 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
在某人背后捅刀子；陷害（或中伤）信任你的人
turn your back
- to turn so that you are facing in the opposite direction
扭头；转身
turn your back on somebody/something
- to move so that you are standing or sitting with your back facing somebody/something
转身背对某人（或某物） - When on stage, try not to turn your back on the audience.
在舞台上尽量不要背对观众。
- When on stage, try not to turn your back on the audience.
- to reject somebody/something that you have previously been connected with
背弃；抛弃 - She turned her back on them when they needed her.
他们需要她的时候，她却背弃了他们。 - Some newspapers have turned their backs on discussion and argument.
有些报纸对讨论和争鸣置之不理。 - She decided to turn her back on Paris and return home.
她决定离开巴黎回家去。
- She turned her back on them when they needed her.
watch your back
- to protect yourself against danger
小心身后；当心危险 - She'd better watch her back if she wants to hold onto the top job.
如果她想保住一把手的位置，最好小心提防。
- 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
（像）耳边风；水过鸭背 - I can't tell my son what to do; it's water off a duck's back with him.
我无法告诉我儿子该做什么，他根本听不进去。
- 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
礼尚往来；私相授受