back
adverb uk/bæk/ us/bæk/
(RETURN)
B2 在原处；回到原处；恢复原状；返回；回到以前
in, into, or towards a previous place or condition, or an earlier time
When you take the scissors, remember to put them back. 剪刀用完后记着要放回去。
He left a note saying "Gone out. Back soon." 他留了张便条，上面写着“出去一下，马上回来”。
She went to Brazil for two years, but now she's back (= has returned). 她去巴西呆了两年，现在回来了。
He looked back (= looked behind him) and saw they were following him. 他向后看了看，发现他们正跟着他。
Looking at her old photographs brought back (= made her remember) a lot of memories. 看着以前的照片，她想起了许多往事。
I was woken by a thunderstorm, and I couldn't get back to sleep (= could not sleep again). 我被雷雨惊醒后，再也无法入睡。
The last time we saw Lowell was back (= at an earlier time) in January. 我们最后一次见到洛厄尔是早在1月的时候。
This tradition dates back to (= to the earlier time of) the 16th century. 这个传统可追溯到16世纪。
A2 作为回报
in return
If he hits me, I'll hit him back. 如果他打我，我就要还手。
You're not just going to let her say those things about you without fighting back, are you? 她那样说你，你不会就此算了吧？
A2 作为回答
in reply
I'm busy at the moment - can I call you back? 我现在很忙——我回头给你打过去好吗？
I wrote to Donna several months ago, but she hasn't written back yet. 我几个月前给唐娜写过信，但她还没有回信。
- More examples
- After the trip, it was nice getting back to a few home comforts.
- She thinks he'll come back, but she's deceiving herself.
- That's enough, Peter. Give those toys back, please.
- I think I locked the door but I'll go back and check just to make sure.
- When I look back I can see where we went wrong.
- Will you put the books back when you've finished with them?
(FURTHER AWAY)
B2 向后；远离
further away in distance
If we push the table back against the wall, we'll have more room. 如果把桌子往后推，靠着墙，就会腾出更多的空间。
"Keep back!" he shouted, "Don't come any closer!" “退后！”他大叫着，“不要再靠近了！”
He sat back on the sofa. 他向后靠坐在沙发上。
She threw back her head and laughed uproariously. 她仰起头，大笑不止。
The house is set back from the street. 那座房子远离公路。
- More examples
- Please stand back - then all of you will be able to see what I'm doing.
- The line of traffic stretched back several miles.
- Could you stand back from these shelves and tell me if they're level?
- Our house is set back from the road.
- As the body was carried through the crowd, people drew back respectfully .
Idioms
back and forthidiom C2 来回地，来来去去
moving first in one direction and then in the opposite one
She swayed gently back and forth to the music. 她随着音乐的节奏轻轻来回摇摆着。
back in the dayidiom 曾几何时（尤用于追忆美好往事时）
used for talking about a time in the past, usually when you are remembering nice things about that time
Back in the day, we had an apartment with a swimming pool. 曾几何时我们还有过一套带游泳池的公寓。
back to square oneidiom 从头开始，重新开始
If you are back to square one, you have to start working on a plan from the beginning because your previous attempt failed completely.
If this doesn't work we're back to square one. 如果这样不行，我们只好从头开始。
back
noun [ C ] uk/bæk/ us/bæk/
(FURTHEST PART)
A2 后面；后部；背面
the inside or outside part of an object, vehicle, building, etc. that is furthest from the front
He jotted her name down on the back of an envelope. 他在信封背面匆匆记下了她的名字。
I found my tennis racket at the back of the cupboard. 我在衣柜的最里边找到了我的网球拍。
We sat at the back of the bus. 我们坐在公共汽车的后部。
Our seats were right at the back of the auditorium. 我们的座位正好就在剧院的后排。
Ted was out/round the back (= in the area behind the house)." 特德在屋后。
There is a beautiful garden at the back of (= behind) the house. 房后有个漂亮的花园。
If there's no reply at the front door, come round the back. 如果前门没人应答，就去后门。
He put his jacket on the back of his chair (= the part of the chair that you put your back against when you sit on it). 他把夹克搭在椅背上。
back to back 背靠背
close together and facing in opposite directions
The office was full of computers, and we had to sit back to back in long rows. 办公室里摆满了电脑，我们只好背靠背坐着，排成长排。
back to frontC2 UK (US backwards) 前后倒置
with the back part of something where the front should be
You've put your jumper on back to front. 你的套头衫前后穿反了。
the back of your hand 手背
the side of your hand that has hair growing on it
- More examples
- I always keep a tool set in the back of my car.
- She lay on the grass and the stiff dry grass prickled the back of her legs.
- The previous owner of the house had built an extension on the back.
- I found her kneeling in prayer at the back of the church.
- The keyboard plugs in at the back of the computer.
(BODY PART)
A2 背部，后背
the part of your body that is opposite to the front, from your shoulders to your bottom
I have a bad back. 我背疼。
Sleeping on a bed that is too soft can be bad for your back. 睡太软的床会对背部有害。
He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. 他仰面躺着，眼睛盯着天花板。
I turned my back (= turned around so that I could not see) while she dressed. 她穿衣服时我转过身去。
She put her back out (= caused a serious injury to her back) lifting a box. 她搬箱子时背部严重扭伤。
- More examples
- The dog rolled over onto its back.
- I pulled a muscle in my back lifting some drawers.
- I go to sleep on my back but I always wake up in a different position.
- Our dog has a black patch on his back.
- I've got a pain in my lower back.
(SPORT)
（足球等运动的）后卫球员
(in some sports, such as football) one of the players in a team who try to stop players from the other team from scoring goals, rather than trying to score goals himself or herself
Compare: forward noun
Idioms More idioms
at/in the back of your mindidiom 在潜意识里，下意识地（觉得）
If something is at/in the back of your mind, you intend to do it, but are not actively thinking about it.
It's been at the back of my mind to call José for several days now, but I haven't got round to it yet. 这几天我一直打算给乔斯打电话，但至今没得空。
the back of beyondidiom UK informal 偏僻之地;边远地方
a place far away from any big town
They live in some village in the back of beyond. 他们住在某个偏僻的乡村。
in back ofidiom US在…后面
behind
The garbage cans are in back of the house. 垃圾桶在房子后面。
be on someone's backidiom informal 多次找（某人）的麻烦;多次批评（某人）
to criticize someone several times in an annoying way
She's on my back again about those sales figures - I just haven't had a moment to do them. 她又跟我唠叨要那些销售数据——我只是还抽不出时间来弄。
behind someone's backidiom C2 在（某人）背后；背地里，暗中
If you do something behind someone's back, you do it without them knowing, in a way that is unfair.
I dread to think what they say about me behind my back. 我不敢想他们在背后说我什么。
someone could do something with one arm/hand tied behind his/her backidiom informal 易如反掌（形容可以轻而易举做到某事）
If someone could do something with one arm/hand tied behind their back, they can do it very easily.
Her part wasn't very demanding - she could have played it with one hand tied behind her back. 她在戏里的角色要求并不是很高，她能轻而易举地完成。
get off someone's backidiom informal 别再跟我唠叨！别再数落我！
used to tell someone to stop criticizing you
Why don't you get off my back! I'm doing my best. 你别再数落我了行不行？我正尽力而为。
have (got) someone's backidiom mainly US informal保护（某人）；掩护（某人）
to be ready to protect or defend someone
Don't worry. I've got your back. 别担心，你有我罩着！
have your back to/against the wallidiom 处于绝境
to have very serious problems that limit the ways in which you can act
He owes money to everyone - he really has his back to the wall now. 他到处借钱——现在真是走投无路了。
on the back of somethingidiom 由于（不久前的某项成就）
soon after an earlier success, and as a result of it
The advertising agency secured the contract on the back of its previous successful campaigns. 由于前期的宣传工作富有成效，这家广告公司最终获得了该合同。
on the back of someone/somethingidiom 利用，借…的光
by using or taking advantage of someone or something else
They have carried on their business operations by riding on the back of established firms. 他们一直在借知名企业的光做他们的生意。
put/get someone's back upidiom UK informal 惹（某人）生气
to annoy someone
Just ignore him - he's only trying to put your back up. 别理他——他只是在成心惹你生气。
back
verb uk/bæk/ us/bæk/
(SUPPORT)
C2 [ T ]支持;资助
to give support to someone or something with money or words
The management has refused to back our proposals. 管理层拒不支持我们的提议。
- More examples
- This theory needs to be backed up with solid empirical evidence.
- The troops were backed by tanks, artillery, and other heavy armour.
- It is hoped that all sides will back the peace plan.
- A poll indicated that 77 percent of Americans backed the president's plan, with only 6 percent in opposition.
- Although Paris backs the U.N. demands, it has made it clear it will not take part in any new military action.
(RISK MONEY)
下赌注于
to risk money by saying that you think a horse, team, etc. will win a race, game, or competition in order to win more money if they do
The horse I backed came in last. 我投注的那匹马得了最后一名。
(MOVE AWAY)
C2 [ I or T, + adv/prep ]（使）后退；使倒退
to (cause to) move backwards
Ann gave up driving when she backed the car into the garage door. 安倒车时撞上了车库大门，于是她从此再也不开车了。
Please could you back your car up a few feet so that I can get mine out of the driveway? 请你把车往后倒几英尺让我把车开出车道，好吗？
(COVER)
[ T ]给某物加背衬使其更加坚固或厚实
to cover the back of something with a material, often to make it stronger or thicker
The material is backed with a heavy lining. 这种料子的里衬很厚实。
Idiom
back the wrong horseidiom 下错了赌注；看错人；作了错误的决策
to make the wrong decision and support a person or action that is later unsuccessful
In all his years as a book publisher, he rarely backed the wrong horse. 做了多年的出版商，他很少有看走眼的时候。
Phrasal verbs
back away （尤指因为害怕）后退;退缩
to move backwards away from something or someone, usually because you are frightened
She saw that he had a gun and backed away. 她看见他有枪，吓得连忙后退。
不再支持;退出
to show that you do not support a plan or idea any longer and do not want to be involved with it
The government has backed away from plans to increase taxes. 政府已经不再支持增税的计划了。
back down 认错;认输;打退堂鼓
to admit that you were wrong or that you have been defeated
Eventually, Roberto backed down and apologized. 最后，罗伯托认错并道了歉。
Local residents have forced the local council to back down from/on its plans to build a nightclub on their street. 当地居民迫使地方议会放弃了在他们住的大街上建夜总会的计划。
back off 放弃；放手；停止（指手画脚）
to stop being involved in a situation, usually in order to allow other people to deal with it themselves
She started to criticize me, then she suddenly backed off. 她开始批评我，后来突然停了下来。
Just back off and let us do this on our own, will you? 你别管了，让我们自己来处理这事好吗？
B2 （尤指因为害怕）后退;退缩
to move backwards away from someone, usually because you are frightened
I saw the knife and backed off. 我看见那把刀，吓得连忙后退。
back onto something （建筑物）背靠着…，后面是…
If a building backs onto something, its back faces that thing.
The house backs onto a narrow alley. 房子后面是一条狭窄的胡同。
back outB2 食言
to decide not to do something that you had said you would do
You agreed to come. You can't back out now! 你答应要来的。你现在可不能说话不算数！
They backed out of the deal the day before they were due to sign the contract. 在原定签合同日期的前一天，他们决定退出这笔交易。
back someone upB2 支持，帮助（某人）
to support or help someone
My family backed me up throughout the court case. 打官司期间，我的家人一直在支持我。
C2 为（某人）作证
to say that someone is telling the truth
Honestly, that's exactly what happened - Claire will back me up. 实话实说，这就是当时的情况——克莱尔会为我作证。
Will you back me up if I say that I never saw him? 如果我说从未见过他，你会为我作证吗？
back something upC2 证明，证实
to prove something is true
His claims are backed up by recent research. 最新的研究证实了他的断言。
B2 给…备份
to make an extra copy of computer information
Make sure you back up your files. 确保你的文件备份了。
See also: backup noun
back (something) up 倒（车）
to drive backwards
back up 堵（车）
If traffic backs up, the vehicles have to wait in a long line because there are too many of them.
The traffic is starting to back up on the M25. 25号高速公路开始堵车了。
back
adjective [ before noun ] uk/bæk/ us/bæk/
(POSITION)
后面的，后部的，背部的
at or near the back of something
She left the house by the back door. 她从后门离开了那座房子。
The back seat of the car folds down. 小汽车的后座可以折起来。
- More examples
- It says on the back cover of the book 'highly commended'.
- She skidded off the road when her back wheels hit an icy patch.
- They sat in the back row of the cinema kissing and cuddling.
- Let's take our drinks out into the back garden.
- Apparently one of her back teeth is very sore.
(PAID LATER)
延迟的，拖欠的
paid after the end of a period of time when it should have been paid
They owe the staff several thousand in back pay. 他们拖欠了员工几千镑工资。
back rent/taxes 预期未交的房租/税款
Idioms
on the back burneridiom （尤指因不紧急或不重要而）暂时搁置一边
If something is on the back burner, it is temporarily not being dealt with or considered, especially because it is not urgent or important.
We've all had to put our plans on the back burner for a while. 我们大家都只好把计划暂时搁置一段时间。
take a back seatidiom （在组织或活动中）退居次要地位
to choose not to be in a position of responsibility in an organization or activity