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Stab in the Back

What Does "Stab in the Back" Mean?

homeidiomsStab in the Back
"Stab in the back" is an English idiom. It means "a betrayal of trust or a treacherous act, typically carried out by someone considered a friend or ally."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "stab in the back" used in a sentence:
  • His sudden resignation from the team felt like a stab in the back to the coach and the rest of the players.
  • Betraying confidential information was seen as a stab in the back by the employee's colleagues.
  • She felt hurt and disappointed when her closest friend's actions turned out to be a stab in the back.
meaning for stab in the back

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Stab in the Back" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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