backscratching en · NOUN
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) The act or habit of engaging in a reciprocal beneficial action.
Near-synonym: logrolling
She babysits the kids, and we mow her lawn. A little backscratching never hurt anybody!
-
(countable, often, uncountable) The act or habit of engaging in a reciprocal beneficial action. ▸ Such behavior that is corrupt.
You have to "tip" the inspector if you want a license in this town. Too much backscratching around here!
They discovered a citation ring: a group of researchers citing one another inordinately. This backscratching aimed to inflate their article-level metrics and author-level metrics.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| backscratchings | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
backscratcher · green handshake · you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours · scratch someone's back · quid pro quo · pay-to-play