Idioms

behind someone's back

This page is about the idiom behind someone's back

Meaning

If you do something behind someone's back, you do it without letting them know about it.

For example

  • We've taught our kids that it's impolite to talk about people behind their backs.

  • The nurses had to go behind the doctor's back when they reported him for drinking alcohol before doing operations.

Quick Quiz

When the player spoke with another team about playing for them, he did it behind his own team's back because

a. he didn't want to play there anymore

b. he didn't want them to know

c. he wanted to make more money
a) he didn't want to play there anymore b) he didn't want them to know c) he wanted to make more money

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey