[back to the wall] or [back against the wall] In a trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble. * /The soldiers had their backs to the wall./ * /He was in debt and could not get any help; his back was against the wall./ * /The team had their backs to the wall in the second half./ Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, LAST DITCH, ON THE SPOT, UP AGAINST IT.
[back up] 1. To move backwards. * /The train was backing up./ 2. To help or be ready to help; stay behind to help; agree with and speak in support of. * /Jim has joined the Boy Scouts and his father is backing him up./ * /The principal backs up the faculty./ * /Jim told us what had happened and Bob backed him up./ Compare: BACK OF(3), STAND BY(4). 3. To move behind (another fielder) in order to catch the ball if he misses it. * /The shortstop backed up the second baseman on the throw./
[backward] See: BEND OVER BACKWARD or LEAN OVER BACKWARD; FALL OVER BACKWARDS or FALL OVER ONESELF.
[backward and forward] or [backwards and forwards] To the full extent; in all details; thoroughly; completely. * /He understood automobile engines backwards and forwards./ * /He knew basketball rules backwards and forwards./ * /I explained matters to him so that he understood backwards and forwards how it was./
[bacon] See: BRING HOME THE BACON.
[bad] See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE, IN A BAD WAY, IN BAD, IN ONE'S BAD GRACES, LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE'S MOUTH, NOT BAD or NOT SO BAD or NOT HALF BAD, ON ONE'S BAD SIDE, TOO BAD, WITH BAD GRACE.
[bad actor] , A person or animal that is always fighting, quarreling, or doing bad things. * /The boy was a bad actor and nobody liked him./
[bad blood] , Anger or misgivings due to bad relations in the past between individuals or groups. * /There's a lot of bad blood between Max and Jack; I bet they'll never talk to each other again./ Compare: BAD SHIT.
[bad egg] , A ne'er-do-well; good-for nothing; a habitual offender. * /The judge sent the bad egg to prison at last./ Contrast: GOOD EGG.
[bad mouth (someone)] , To say uncomplimentary or libelous things about someone; deliberately to damage another's reputation. * /It's not nice to had mouth people./
[bad news] , An event, thing, or person which is disagreeable or an unpleasant surprise. * /What's the new professor like? - He's all bad news to me./
