backn. one’s support or second in a fight.
(From back-up.) Fred served as Tom’s
back in the scuff le. I need a back I can
depend on.
backassedmod. pertaining to a manner
that is backwards, awkward, or round-
about. (Old and widely known. Usually
objectionable.) Of all the backassed
schemes I’ve ever seen, this one is tops.
backbonen. courage; integrity. If you
had any backbone, you would be able to
deal with this. She lacks backbone, that’s
all.
backdoor trot(s)n. a case of diarrhea.
(From the time when people had to go
out the backdoor to the outhouse.) I
can’t go out tonight. I got a case of the
backdoor trots. She gets the backdoor
trot when she drinks wine.
backed upmod. drug intoxicated. Oh
my God, I am really backed up! Old
Benny’s really backed up.
back-enderGo to rear-ender.
backern. a supporter; a financier of a play,
political campaign, etc. I had a lot of
generous backers for the play. I was hop-
ing for a backer, but the project was too
chancy.
backfirein. to release intestinal gas anally,
perhaps audibly. (Usually objectionable.)
Whew! Somebody backfired! It was
noisy when Dave backfired, and hardly
anyone heard what happened.
backfire (on someone)in. [for a scheme
meant to cause harm to someone or
something] to harm the person who runs
the scheme. I hope this plan doesn’t
backfire on me. Her attempt to frame
Bill for the crime backfired.
backhandern. a backhand slap in the face.
Then she gave me a powerful back-
hander without even looking to see who I
was. Yes, officer, a perfectly strange
woman came up and clobbered me with a
backhander that loosened a tooth.
backlashn. the negative response to some-
thing. Was there any backlash aimed at
your suggestion? We weren’t prepared
for the backlash we got.
back numbern. an old-fashioned person.
(Like an out-of-print issue of a maga-
zine.) Some old back number wearing
gaiters wants to have a word with you.
Oh, Dad! You’re getting to be such a back
number!
back roommod. secret; concealed. I am
going to watch for back room deals. All
the candidates were selected in back room
meetings.
back room boysGo to boys in the back
room.
backseat drivern. an annoying passenger
who tells the driver how to drive; some-
one who tells others how to do things.
I don’t need any backseat driver on this
project. Stop being a backseat driver!
backsiden. the buttocks; one’s rear. She
fell right on her backside. There is some
mustard or something on your backside.
backslappern. someone who is overly
friendly and outgoing. At election time,
city hall is filled with backslappers and
baby-kissers. In the used car dealership,
this backslapper comes up to me and tells
me he’s got something that will last me a
lifetime.
back to square onephr. back to the be-
ginning. (Often with go.) Well, it looks
like it’s back to square one. We’ve got to
get this done without going back to square
one.
back to the salt minesphr. back to the
workplace. Well, it’s Monday morning.
Back to the salt mines. Break’s over!
Back to the salt mines, everybody.
back upin. to refuse to go through with
something; to back out (of something).
Fred backed up at the last minute, leav-
ing me with twenty pounds of hot dogs.
Don’t back up now, man. It’s too late.
baconn. the police; a police officer. (See
also pig.) Keep an eye out for the bacon.
That bacon is hassling me!
bad 1. mod. powerful; intense. (Streets.)
Man, that is really bad music! This
grass is bad! 2. mod. suitable; excellent;
good. (Streets.) I got some new silks
that are really bad. That is a bad manback