back-scratchingn.

Etymology: < back- comb. form 1 + scratching n.², in allusion to the saying, ‘You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours’.Previous versions of the OED give the stress as: ˈback-ˌscratching.

colloquial.

The performance of mutual services; always with the suggestion of doubt as to the legitimacy of the transactions. (See also back-scratcher n. at Derivatives, scratching n.², back-scratching at back- comb. form 1a(a)(ii).)

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > co-operation > [noun] > performance of mutual services

back-scratching1924

the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > types of help > [noun] > mutual assistance

mutual aid1537

giff-gaff1549

giff-gaffing1606

log-rolling1823

back-scratching1924

1924 P. C. Macfarlane Tongues of Flame xxv. 223 ‘That is the modern method of bribery, you know—back-scratching,’ she frowned savagely. ‘“We've scratched your back; now you scratch ours.” That's the system.’

1933 Punch 24 May 567/1 Mr. Hugh Walpole made the startling suggestion that contemporary criticism occasionally showed symptoms of degenerating into mutual back-scratching.

Derivatives

ˈback-ˌscratcher n.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > a companion or associate > [noun] > one who exchanges favours

log-roller1821

back-scratcher1897

the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > types of help > [noun] > mutual assistance > one who

log-roller1821

back-scratcher1897

1897 Daily News 9 Jan. 4/7 Does it not rather partake of the ethics of the back-scratcher and the log-roller?

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online June 2019).

(ii) With verbal noun, forming substantives, as back-breaking, back-scratching.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > [noun] > breaking of back

back-breaking1787

1787 J. Bentham Let. 9–20 Feb. in Corr. (1971) III. 522 Back-breaking, which is the death of so many vessels.

1884 Good Words June 400/2 Having borne himself so lubberly over his ‘back-scratching.’

单词	back-scratching
释义	back-scratchingn. Etymology: < back- comb. form 1 + scratching n.², in allusion to the saying, ‘You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours’.Previous versions of the OED give the stress as: ˈback-ˌscratching. colloquial. The performance of mutual services; always with the suggestion of doubt as to the legitimacy of the transactions. (See also back-scratcher n. at Derivatives, scratching n.², back-scratching at back- comb. form 1a(a)(ii).) ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > co-operation > [noun] > performance of mutual services back-scratching1924 the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > types of help > [noun] > mutual assistance mutual aid1537 giff-gaff1549 giff-gaffing1606 log-rolling1823 back-scratching1924 1924 P. C. Macfarlane Tongues of Flame xxv. 223 ‘That is the modern method of bribery, you know—back-scratching,’ she frowned savagely. ‘“We've scratched your back; now you scratch ours.” That's the system.’ 1933 Punch 24 May 567/1 Mr. Hugh Walpole made the startling suggestion that contemporary criticism occasionally showed symptoms of degenerating into mutual back-scratching. Derivatives ˈback-ˌscratcher n. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > a companion or associate > [noun] > one who exchanges favours log-roller1821 back-scratcher1897 the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > types of help > [noun] > mutual assistance > one who log-roller1821 back-scratcher1897 1897 Daily News 9 Jan. 4/7 Does it not rather partake of the ethics of the back-scratcher and the log-roller? This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online June 2019). > as lemmas back-scratching (ii) With verbal noun, forming substantives, as back-breaking, back-scratching. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > [noun] > breaking of back back-breaking1787 1787 J. Bentham Let. 9–20 Feb. in Corr. (1971) III. 522 Back-breaking, which is the death of so many vessels. 1884 Good Words June 400/2 Having borne himself so lubberly over his ‘back-scratching.’ extracted from back-comb. form < n.1897 as lemmas
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back-scratchingn.

Derivatives

> as lemmas