first to one shore, and then backing to the other, allowing the stream to make the way, the wind blowing in an opposite direction to the stream.
Backing-On.—See Turning-on.
Backings Up, subs. (Winchester
College).—The unconsumed
ends of half-burned fagots.
They are collected and sometimes
made into surreptitious
fires by 'Juniors.'
Back Jump, subs. (thieves').—A
back window.—See Jump.
Backmarked. To be backmarked, verb. (pedestrian).—In handicapping to receive less start from 'scratch' than previously given—even to being put back to 'scratch.'
Back Out, verb. (colloquial).—To
retreat cautiously and tacitly;
from stable phraseology; e.g.,
the backing out of a horse.
Very much the same as to back
down (q.v).
1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. viii. Jobson, however, was determined that Morris should not back out of the scrape so easily.
1855. A. Trollope, The Warden, ch. xii. How was he to back out of a matter in which his name was already so publicly concerned?
1870. L. Oliphant, Piccadilly, pt. IV., p. 152. I am sure that he had done his best to spread the report of my marriage with his sister for fear of my backing out.
Back Scuttle, verb. (thieves').—The
same as back-slang (q.v).
Back-Seam. To be down on
one's back-seam, phr. (tailors').—To
be down on one's luck;
to be unfortunate.
Back Seat- To take a back
seat, phr. (American}.—Figuratively,
to retire into obscurity;
it also sometimes implies a
silent confession of failure; an
inability to accomplish what
one has attempted. The colloquialism
has gained a world-wide
currency; it received an
immense 'send off,' as the Americans
say, from Andrew Johnson's
famous saying in 1868,
that in the work of Reconstruction
traitors should take back
seats.
1885. Society, Feb. 7, p. 9. This great batting achievement must, however, take a back seat when compared with the enormous total recently scored by Shaw's Eleven in Australia, against a powerful Colonial team.
1888. Daily News, Feb. 24, p. 5, col. 2. Any form of art which is barred by its very nature from perfection must take what the Americans call a back seat.
1888. Texas Siftings, p. 426. Who will say the Britishers are not a forbearing and forgiving race, and the inhabitants of Stratford-on-Avon don't by any means take a back seat in that line? Ignatius Donnelly actually visited the birthplace of Shakespeare, and wasn't lynched! Far from it, he was hospitably received and entertained.
Back-Slum, subs. (colloquial).—The
lowest and most disreputable
quarters of a town or city;
generally applied to the dens
and rookeries of the criminal
and 'outcast' classes.
1821. W. T. Moncrieff's Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Scene 5. Log. Well, don't grumble—every one must pay for his learning—and you wouldn't bilk the schoolmaster, would you? But, come, I'm getting merry; so if you wish for a bit of good truth, come with me, and let's have a dive among the cadgers in the back slums, in the Holy Land. Jerry. Back slums—Holy Land!—I'm at fault again. Log. Why, among the beggars in Dyot Street, St. Giles's. Tom. Beggars! ah, we shall be very good figures for the part. (Turns out his pockets.)
