Back Down, verb, (common).—To yield; to retreat from a position; to abandon a line of argument; to eat one's words. Originally an American turn of expression.—See Back track and Back out.
Subs.—Usually a square back down; a severe rebuff; sometimes, utter collapse.
Backed, ppl. adj. (old).—Dead—a
figurative use of to 'put on
one's back,' i.e., to place hors de
combat.
Back-end, subs. (racing).—The
last two months of the racing
season. More technical than
slang.
1820. Blackw. Mag., Oct., p. 3. When you did me the honour to stop a day or two at last back-end.
1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. xxix. 'Most of what I got over that steeplechase I dropped at the back-end over the October handicaps.'
Adj.—The meaning, mutatis mutandis, is the same as back-end.
1883. Daily Telegraph, April 30, p. 3, col. 6. And neither [horse] could beat Palermo on back-end form.
Back-Gammon Player.—See Backdoor.
Backhand, verb, (common).—To
detain the decanter when it is
passed round, and thus to drink
more than one's share; a more
recent phrase is 'not drinking
fair.'—See, however, Backhander.
1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. viii. 'Livingstone, if you begin backhanding already, you'll never be able to hold that great raking chestnut I saw your groom leading this evening.'
Back-Handed Turn (Stock Exchange).—An
unprofitable bargain.
Backhander, subs, (common).—1.
A drink out of turn; also
detention of wine at table so as
to get an extra share.
1855. Thackery, Newcomes, ch. xliii. 'Thank you, Mr. Binnie, I will take a backhander, as Clive don't seem to drink.'
1873. Saturday Review, p. 798. Long experience has shown us that to get small advantages over us gives the Scotch so much pleasure, that we should not think of grudging them the mild satisfaction, just as a kindly host affects not to notice a valued guest, who, he observes, always helps himself to an innocent backhander.
2. A blow on the face with the back of the hand.
1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, p. 11. 'Go away, Sarah,' said Johnny, with a backhander.
1862. Farrar, St. Winifred's, ch. xxxiii. He administered a backhander to Elgood, as he spoke, and the next minute Charlie, roused beyond all bearing, had knocked him down.
1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College. The doctor comes suddenly round a corner, and finds Tibbs [a fag] mopping the rosy fluid from his nose with a rueful countenance, having just received a sharp backhander from one of his lords and masters.
3. Hence, figuratively, a rebuke; a 'setting down.'
1850. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, ch. i. I knew this was what John calls a back hander at me, but I can be so good-natured when I have anything to gain, therefore I only said
Backing and Filling, adj. (colloquial).—A
backing and filling policy is one that is shifty;
irresolute; trifling. A figurative
usage derived from backing
and filling a vessel, i.e., keeping
it in the middle of the stream
of a narrow river by advancing
