back

noun

/bæk/

Idioms

part of body身体部位

enlarge image

the 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.她背对着镜头站着，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).他们背着风出发了。
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。
a bad (= painful) back背部疼痛。
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.她因背部剧痛而卧床不起。
A small boy rode on the elephant's back.一个小男孩骑在大象背上。

Collocations Physical appearancePhysical appearance外貌

A person may be described as having:描述一个人的长相可用 have 一词：

Eyes眼睛

(bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes（明亮的）蓝／绿／（深／浅）棕色／浅绿褐色眼睛
deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes凹陷的／凸出的眼睛
small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes小的／小珠般圆亮的／亮晶晶的／闪闪发亮的／贼溜溜的眼睛
piercing/penetrating/steely eyes敏锐的／锐利的眼睛；冷冰冰的眼神
bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes布满血丝的／水汪汪的／肿胀的眼睛
bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows浓密的／扬起的／弓形的眉毛
long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes长长的／浓密的／弯曲的／假的眼睫毛

Face脸

a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose塌／蒜头／尖头／尖／短平而上翘的鼻子
a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose挺直的鼻子；鹰钩鼻；高鼻梁；鹰钩鼻
full/thick/thin/pouty lips丰满的／厚／薄／翘嘴唇
dry/chapped/cracked lips干的／皲裂的／干裂的嘴唇
flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks发红的／红润的／苍白的面颊
soft/chubby/sunken cheeks柔嫩的／胖乎乎的／凹陷的面颊
white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth洁白的／完好无缺的／参差不齐的／凸出来的牙齿
a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead大大的／高高的／宽大的／后倾的前额
a strong/weak/pointed/double chin硬朗的／瘦削的／尖／双下巴
a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard长／大／浓密的／一小撮／山羊胡子
a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache长长的／稀疏的／浓密的／耷拉着的／翘／细直的八字胡

Hair and skin头发和皮肤

pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin苍白的／白皙的／橄榄色的／黝黑的／晒黑的皮肤
dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin干性的／油性的／光滑的／粗糙的／有皱纹的皮肤
a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion黝黑的／苍白的／白皙的／蜡黄的／红润的／浅褐色的／黝黑的／无瑕的面容
deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles深深的／细小的／小的／面部的皱纹
blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(British English) ginger/grey hair金黄色的／浅色的／（浅／深）棕色的／乌黑的／红褐色的／红色的／姜黄色的／灰白色的头发
straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair直发；鬈发；波浪形的／鬈曲的／刺猬式的头发
thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair厚密的／稀疏的／纤细的／浓密的／逐渐稀少的头发
dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair染了色的／漂白了的／柔顺的／丝滑的／干性的／油性的／有光泽的头发
long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair长／短／齐肩／剪短了的头发
a bald/balding/shaved head秃头；开始秃顶的头；剃光了的头
a receding hairline后移的发际线
a bald patch/spot秃了的一块
a side/centre(British English) parting 偏分；中分

Body身体

a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck长／短／粗／细／干瘦的脖子
broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders宽／窄／斜／圆／耸肩膀
a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest赤裸的／宽阔的／肌肉发达的胸膛；小胸；大胸
a flat/swollen/bulging stomach扁平的／鼓胀的／鼓起的肚子
a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist纤细的／28英寸的腰
big/wide/narrow/slim hips大的／宽的／窄小的／苗条的臀部
a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back直的／弯曲的／弓着的／宽大的／多毛的背部
thin/slender/muscular arms瘦削的／细长的／肌肉发达的臂膀
big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands大的／小的／修剪整齐的／有老茧的／戴着手套的手
long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers长的／短的／粗的／细长的／纤细的／瘦削的手指
long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs肌肉发达的／胖乎乎的／肥胖的大腿
big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet大的／小的／娇小可爱的／宽的／窄的／光着的脚
a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure好的／修长的／苗条的／沙漏形身材
be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build有着苗条的／中等的／普通的／大块头的／健壮的／矮壮的身材

part furthest from front后部

[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.她被击中了后脑勺。
He kicked the ball straight into the back of the net.他把球直接踢进了球网的后面。
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.从后面绕过来，我带你去看花园。

see also hardback, paperback, short back and sides

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:at the back 和 at the rear 意义相近，但 at the rear 多用于正式或官方语言：
- 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。
It is more usual to talk about the back door of a house but the rear exit of an aircraft or public building. If something is behind something else it is near to the back of it but not part of it. Compare:
- Our room was at the back of the hotel我们的房间在旅馆靠后面的地方。
and和：
- 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。
.

He was shot in the back of the knee.他被子弹击中了腘窝。
I found some old photos at the back of the drawer.我从抽屉尽里头找到一些旧照片。
They were sitting in the back of the truck.他们坐在卡车的后面。
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。

Collocations Dictionarypreposition

around back
around the back
round the back
…

phrases

back to front

of piece of paper纸张

[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。

of book书刊

[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.我提到的那篇文章在那本杂志上——我想是后面。
The arts page is usually towards the back of the newspaper.艺术版通常排在报纸的后几版。

of chair椅子

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the part of a chair, etc. against which you lean your back（椅子等的）靠背

-backed靠背…

(in adjectives构成形容词) 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

in sport体育运动

(in some sports

某些体育运动

) a player whose main role is to defend their team’s goal后卫 compare forward see also full back, half back

词源Old 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.在我的脑海后面是一个小小的警告的声音，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。

somebody's back is turned

when somebody's back is turned they are not present and not able to see what is happening过去；从前；旧时
- Officers are ready to issue a parking ticket as soon as a driver's back is turned.司机一转身，警察就准备开出停车罚单。

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.我们住在远处的某个农舍里。

(on the) back of an envelope

used to talk about planning or calculating something in a way that is not detailed, exact or complete用于谈论计划或计算方式不详尽，不准确或不完整的内容
- We added up our savings on the back of an envelope.我们在信封背面写上了我们的存款。
- back-of-the-envelope calculations粗略计算

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。
see also back-to-back
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.这个队不得不连续打三场比赛。

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。
compare inside out

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部。

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。
compare to somebody’s face

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.关于我借的那笔钱，他仍然对我耿耿于怀。

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面折下来。

cover your back (informal)

(North American English also cover your ass taboo, 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/put somebody’s back up

(informal) to annoy somebody惹恼
- That sort of attitude really gets my back up!那种态度实在叫我恼火！

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！

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，我支持你。

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.我们别无选择，只能出售。

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.你在她班上什么都逃不掉。她后脑勺有眼睛。

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。

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Topics Difficulty and failurec2

off the back of something (informal)

immediately after something（与某物）有距离
- They come into this game off the back of a 1–0 defeat to Chelsea.他们是在0:1输给切尔西后才开始这场比赛的。

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。
Topics Successc2

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。

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！

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。

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.他是那种会把衬衫脱下来给你的人。

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，这是一个真正的暗箭。

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 synonym betray

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。
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。

watch your back

to protect yourself against danger表扬，称赞（某人或自己）
- She'd better watch her back if she wants to hold onto the top job.如果她想保住最高职位，最好小心点。

(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。

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

back

adverb

/bæk/

For the special uses of back in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example pay somebody back is in the phrasal verb section at pay.Idioms

as before像先前

to or into the place, condition, situation or activity where somebody/something was before回原处；恢复原状

When is he coming back to work?他什么时候回来工作？
He'll be back on Monday.他星期一会回来。
Don't forget to bring it back when you've finished with it.用完了别忘了带回来。
Please give me my ball back.请把我的球还给我。
Put the book back on the shelf.把书放回书架上。
Could you go back to the beginning of the story?你能不能回到故事的开头？
She woke up briefly and then went back to sleep.她醒了片刻又睡了。
I can't wait to get back home.我急不可待想赶回家。
It takes me an hour to walk there and back.我步行往返要花一个小时。
We were right back where we started, only this time without any money.我们回到了起点，只是这次一点钱也没有。
It's good to have the whole family back together again.一家人又复合了，真好。

away from front后面

away from the front or centre; behind you向后；在后；在背面

I moved back to let them pass.我搬回来让他们过去。
Sit back and relax.靠椅背坐好，放松放松。
You've combed your hair back.你把头发往后梳了。
He turned and looked back.他转身向后望。
She fell back towards the end of the race.赛跑快结束时她落后了。

opposite forward

at a previous place在原处

at a place previously left or mentioned在曾去过（或提到过）的地方；在前面

We should have turned left five kilometres back.我们在五公里之前就该左拐的。
Back at home, her parents were worried.在家中，她的父母很担心。

in return回应

in return or reply回报；回答

She's a tough kid, who, when attacked, fights back hard.她是个坚强的孩子，当受到攻击时，她会奋力反击。
If he hits me, I'll hit him back.如果他打我，我就要还手。
Could you call back later, please?请稍后再打电话来好吗？

at a distance距离

at a distance away from something（与某物）有距离

The barriers kept the crowd back.障碍物拦住了人群。
Stand back and give me some room.站远点儿，给我腾出些地方。

in past过去

in or into the past; ago以前

The cathedral dates back to 1123.这座大教堂建于1123年。
The village has a history going back to the Middle Ages.这个村子的历史可追溯至中世纪。
She left back in November.她十一月已经离开了。
That was a few years back.那是几年以前的事。

under control受控制

under control; prevented from being expressed or coming out控制住；忍住

He could no longer hold back his tears.他再也无法控制住眼泪。

fashionable again

fashionable again刻意忘掉（不愉快的事）；把…丢到脑后

Beards are back.胡子又回来了。
I wonder if flares will ever come back in?我想知道信号弹会不会回来？

词源Old 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

back and forth

from one place to another and back again repeatedly反复来回
- ferries sailing back and forth between the islands往返于岛屿之间的渡船

back in the day

in the past过去；从前；旧时
- My dad's always talking about how great everything was back in the day.我爸爸总是讲过去的一切如何如何的好。

back in the days

at a particular time in the past在过去的某个时候
- I was a fan back in the days when the band wasn't yet famous.在这个乐队还没出名的时候，我就是他们的歌迷。

back of something

(North American English, informal) behind something在某物的背后（或背面）
- the houses back of the church位于教堂后面的房屋

back to square one

a return to the situation you were in at the beginning of a project, task, etc., because you have made no real progress（因无进展）回到起点，从头再来
- If this suggestion isn't accepted, we'll be back to square one.如果这个建议得不到采纳，我们就得从头再来了。

come back/down to earth (with a bang/bump) | bring somebody (back) down to earth (with a bang/bump)

(informal) to return, or to make somebody return, to a normal way of thinking or behaving after a time when you/they have been very excited, not very practical, etc.（使）从幻想中清醒过来，回到现实中来 see also down to earth

back

part of body身体部位

part furthest from front后部

of piece of paper纸张

of book书刊

of chair椅子

-backed靠背…

in sport体育运动

back

away from front后面

from past过去

owed拖欠

phonetics语音

back

as before像先前

away from front后面

at a previous place在原处

in return回应

at a distance距离

in past过去

under control受控制

fashionable again

back

support支持

bet money下赌注

music音乐

move backwards后退

cover back覆盖背面

be behind在后面