Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
stab in the back en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Meanings
-
An act of betrayal or treachery.
Another Russian general — Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev — made his own video appeal, calling any actions against the Russian state a “stab in the back of the country and president.”
2023 June 28, Julian E. Barnes, Helene Cooper, Eric Schmitt, “Russian General Knew About Mercenary Chief’s Rebellion Plans, U.S. Officials Say”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:Vice-President Dick Cheney viewed the move by Britain—“perfidious Albion,” as he put it—as “a stab in the back,” according to a former senior intelligence official.
2009 March 30, Dick Cheney, quotee, “Albion, I stab at thee”, in The Economist, →ISSN:
Forms
Synonyms
treacherousness · treason · double-dealing · prodition · betrayal · breach of trust · breach of promise · treason · perfidiousness · tergiversation · perfidy · stab in the back · prodition · Punic faith · perfidy · Judas kiss · swike · treachery · traitory
Translations (16)
es puñalada trapera (act of betrayal) · fr coup de couteau dans le dos (act of betrayal) · de Dolchstoß (act of betrayal) · fr trahison (act of betrayal) · fi selkään puukotus (act of betrayal) · cmn 背刺 (act of betrayal) · da kniv i ryggen (act of betrayal) · ru уда́р в спи́ну (act of betrayal) · ml പിന്നിൽനിന്നുള്ള കുത്ത് (act of betrayal) · fr coup de poignard dans le dos (act of betrayal) · pl cios w plecy (act of betrayal) · vi sự hãm hại (act of betrayal) · pt facada nas costas (act of betrayal) · nl dolksteek (act of betrayal) · fi selkään puukottaminen (act of betrayal) · sv dolkstöt (i ryggen) (act of betrayal)
stab in the back en · VERB
Pronunciation
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To betray (somebody).
“What concerns me,” Ryder said, as if they’d been having an entirely different conversation, “is that you’re angry right now, Harper. Menoris was a teammate and you trusted her; I get that. Everyone’s been stabbed in the back at some point or another. But are you going to Illium to complete the mission, or to get revenge?”
2017 November, N. K. Jemisin, Mac Walters, chapter 5, in Mass Effect Andromeda: Initiation, 1st edition (Science Fiction), Titan Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 96:Speaking on February 1, Cash said: "Today, transport workers who are risking their lives keeping our country moving have found out they have been stabbed in the back by the Government, who have extended the public sector pay freeze to the transport sector […].
2021 February 10, Richard Clinnick, “Network News: Fears of pay freeze prompt union strike threat”, in RAIL, number 924, page 24:
Forms
Relateds
stab-in-the-back myth · backstabber
Synonyms
traitorize · swike · assfuck · sell the pass · play someone false · sell down · cop out · quisle · forswear · cross up · do the dirty on · stab in the back · renegade · double-cross · let down · betray · traitorize · sell · turncoat · burn · false · cross out · go back on · sell down the river · sell out · sell out · do someone dirty · knife
Translations (18)
de in den Rücken fallen (to betray somebody) · sv hugga i ryggen (to betray somebody) · fr prendre en traître (to betray somebody) · es atacar por la espalda (to betray somebody) · vi hãm hại (to betray somebody) · fi puukottaa selkään (to betray somebody) · da falde i ryggen (to betray somebody) · es apuñalar por la espalda (to betray somebody) · hu hátba támad (to betray somebody) · pl wbijać nóż w plecy (to betray somebody) · cmn 背刺 (to betray somebody) · pl wbić nóż w plecy (to betray somebody) · hu hátba szúr (to betray somebody) · es coger por la espalda (to betray somebody) · es dejar mal (to betray somebody) · az kürəyə xəncər sancmaq (to betray somebody) · ml പിന്നിൽനിന്നു കുത്തുക (to betray somebody) · az kürəyə xəncər saplamaq (to betray somebody)