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методическое пособие

Back Idioms

 

Learn new expressions in English with these exercises:

I don't suppose I need to tell you that 'back' can mean the part of your body that you can lie on or, more generally, the opposite of 'front'.

'Back' is used in lots of idiomatic expressions. How many of them do you know?

If you 'put your back into' something, you work really hard.

If somebody is giving you orders/nagging you etc., you can ask them to 'get off your back'. This is not very polite!

If you do something well you 'deserve a pat on the back'.

Sometimes people criticize you but not to your face. They talk 'behind your back'.

Sometimes we agree to do something for somebody if they agree to do something for you – 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours'.

If you stop doing something that you used to do regularly, you 'turn your back on' it.

If somebody who is not popular is leaving, you 'won't be sorry to see the back of him'.

If somebody makes you angry, they 'get your back up'.

If you are in a very bad situation, you have your 'backs to the wall'.

If somebody does something bad to you, you may want to try to 'get your own back'.

Sometimes we try not to worry about things but a small worry remains 'in the back of my mind'.

If you know something really well, you know it 'like the back of your hand'.

If criticism has no effect on somebody, it is 'like water off a duck's back'.

If a place is very isolated geographically, it is 'in the back of beyond'.

If you do not have a major role in an activity, you 'take a back seat'.