behind1 preposition, adverbbehind2 noun
behindbe‧hind1 /bɪˈhaɪnd/ ●●● S1 W1 preposition, adverb 
WORD ORIGINbehind1
Origin:
Old English behindan, from hindan ‘from behind’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Behind his gruff exterior, she finds a sweet soul.
- Gutierrez entered the race with six weeks of solid training behind her.
- He sat behind me.
- I was driving behind a truck on the freeway.
- Is that your shoe behind the couch?
- It's interesting to learn the history behind the buildings.
- Ronstadt's days as a rock star are behind her, for now.
- Surprisingly, Congress appears to be firmly behind the President on this issue.
- The Chamber of Commerce is behind this year's annual fund-raising dinner.
- the mountains behind the city
- The police believe a local gang is behind the killings.
- The Rams were 21 points behind the Falcons with only 10 minutes left to play.
- What's behind Cooper's opposition to the changes?
THESAURUS
at or towards the back of something, and often hidden by it: · The sun went behind a cloud.· I got stuck behind a truck on the way to the airport.
British English, in (the) back American English behind something, especially a building: · There’s a small garden at the back of the cottage.· Their house has a pool in the back.
written behind something, especially a building. At/to the rear sounds rather formal and is used especially in written descriptions: · They parked in a small car park at the rear of the hotel.· There is a small seating area to the rear.
if someone or something is in the background, it is behind the place where the main activity is happening: · If you look carefully at the painting, you will see several men sitting at a table in the background.
Longman Language Activatorat the back of something and usually hidden by it at or towards the back of something, and often hidden by it: · The sun went behind a cloud.· Put a cushion behind you. You'll feel more comfortable.· I got stuck behind a truck on the way to the airport.
British /in (the) back American behind something, especially a building: · There's a small garden at the back.· You can park your car in back.· Their house has a pool in the back.at the back of: · The tennis courts were at the back of the main school building.
written behind something, especially something large: at/to the rear of: · They parked in a small carpark at the rear of the hotel.· To the rear of the house is an old shed.
British informal to or in a place behind a building: · We need to go round the back. I don't have keys to the front door.
the area behind the things or people in a picture, on a stage etc the area behind someone or something in a picture, on a stage etc: · The invitations had red lettering on a white background.against a background: · The flag's five orange stripes stand out against a silver background.
if someone or something is in the background , it is behind the place where the main activity is happening: · In the photograph, a statue of St. Andrew stood in the background.· Palm trees swayed in the background.· While I was on the phone with Julie, I could hear the sound of a television in the background.
the things such as buildings, hills or mountains that are behind something that you are looking at: · The snow-covered Rocky Mountains made a wonderful backdrop for the concert.
when something bad has finished if a problem or bad experience is over , it has ended: · There had been a fight in the bar, but when the police got there it was all over.· His captors finally released him, and his long ordeal was over.· In 1963, the White House wrongly predicted that the military action in Vietnam would be over by 1965.
if something unpleasant or something you have been worrying about is over and done with , it has finished and no longer affects you: · What happened many years ago is over and done with as far as I'm concerned.· They belonged to a part of her life that was over and done with.
if an unpleasant experience is behind you, it is finished so that it does not affect your life or feelings any more: · Because of the measures we have taken, the worst is now behind us.put something behind you (=deal with an unpleasant experience, so that it no longer affects you): · Counselling helped her put the experience behind her.
spoken use this to say that an unpleasant experience has ended and can be forgotten: · Your troubles are all in the past now.
use this to say that you are not willing to discuss a subject any more, especially because it is unpleasant or upsetting: · As far as I am concerned, the matter is closed.· Until we can talk about this in a civil manner, I consider the discussion closed.
to try not to think about something to deliberately try not to think about something sad or unpleasant: · I've been trying not to think about her but my friends won't let me forget.· a war the country was trying to forget· Years after they had gotten divorced, Olivia found it very difficult to forget John.forget (that): · Forget I mentioned it. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.forget about: · We can forget about the accident now and concentrate on getting on with our lives.
to try to make yourself stop thinking about something that makes you angry, sad, or nervous: · It's time to put her out of your mind and find a new girlfriend.· I was nervous about flying for the first time but I tried to put it out of my mind.
to try not to think about something sad or unpleasant that happened in the past so that you can continue with your life and try to be happy: · Try and put the incident behind you and get on with normal life.· The team have put last night's loss behind them and are looking forward to next week's game.
if an activity takes your mind off a worrying problem, it makes you not think about it for a short time: · Joe suggested a game of cards to take my mind off things.· Staying busy helped keep his mind off his troubles.
to have done less than you planned to do informal to have done less of your work than you planned to do or should have done: · If you're so far behind that you can't finish it on time, give me a call and I'll come and help.be behind with: · I've got to stay late tonight because I'm a bit behind with my work.get behind: · If you don't do your homework every week, you'll get behind in your studies.way behind (=very much behind): · We were way behind on the budget planning already when the new project came in.
to be doing each part of a planned series of activities later than you planned to do it: · Sorry, I can't talk now - I'm behind schedule as it is.be six months etc behind schedule: · The tunnel project is now 18 months behind schedule and £300 million over budget.
to have spent longer than planned doing the first part of something or the first of a series of activities: · We're running late - we'll have to hurry if we want to catch the 5 o'clock train.· The Queen's visit to the factory was running late, so she did not come to see the production department.
what you say when someone or something is late · The meeting started late.· There are severe penalties for late payment of bills.15 minutes/3 days etc late · Tony handed in his homework a day late.
use this about payments that should have been made or library books that should have been returned before now: · I must take these books back to the library - they're overdue.three weeks/two months etc overdue: · The rent's three weeks overdue.
to have not made one or more regular payments at the time when you should: · Jim's worried because he's behind with his loan repayments.be two months etc behind with something: · You're two months behind with the rent.get/fall behind with something (=start to make payments late): · I'm getting behind with the mortgage and I don't know how I'm going to pay it.· Even when people fall behind with their payments, they continue to take on financial commitments.
to have not made one or more regular payments at the time when you should: · In some areas, two out of three tenants are in arrears.be in arrears with: · Many countries are in arrears with their contributions.be two months etc in arrears: · Over 60,000 Londoners are more than three months in arrears with their mortgage repayments.get/fall into arrears: · The tax bills are sent out annually, so it's very easy for small employers to fall into arrears.
done or given later than it should have been, usually with the result that it does not have the effect that it should have: · John made a belated attempt to apologize.· I got a belated birthday card from my cousin yesterday.· her belated realisation that he was in love with someone else
spoken use this when someone arrives somewhere late: · You're late! Hurry up and get your books out and get on with your work.· You're late again, Chris! You'll be in trouble if you don't get your act together soon.
when you are likely to lose a game etc to be in a position where you are likely to lose a game, competition, election or war because you are not doing as well as your opponent: · "Is Joachim winning?" "No, he's losing."be losing the game/war etc: · It can be difficult not to show your frustration when you're losing the match.be losing 3--1/by 15 points/by 2 goals etc: · "What's the score?" "We're losing 3 -- nil."
to be losing a game, competition, or election: be behind by two goals/by10 points etc: · The opinion polls show that the Republicans are behind by 3%.be 10 points/a goal etc behind: · "How are we doing?" "We're 10 points behind, I'm afraid."be a long way behind/be way behind (=be losing by a large amount): · Although we only had a short break, we were a long way behind the front runners.· The Eagles are way behind. We'll never win at this rate.
also trail behind to be losing a game or competition, or election - used especially in news reports: · Penn State trail West Virginia by only 1 point.trail 3--0/by 10 points/by 8 votes etc: · Sweden was trailing by 2 games to 1.· With his team trailing 72--78, the manager was forced to bring back his star player.trail behind: · These two top drivers have left the others trailing behind.· Labour trailed third, behind the Conservative and Liberal parties.
a person or team that is not expected to win: · The defending champion was beaten by an outsider in the first round.· Smith, a little-known outsider with limited political experience, came from behind to score a surprise victory.rank outsider (=someone with a very small chance of winning) British: · He started as a no-hoper -- a rank outsider for the title.
people · Mr Griffiths is a real old-fashioned teacher who still believes that learning lessons by heart is the best method.· My Dad was very old-fashioned and didn't approve of me going to nightclubs with my friends.
to think and behave as if life is still like it was when you were young, especially because you do not like the modern world: · You've got to get over it, honey - you've got to stop living in the past.· Critics say Buchanan is living in the past, and remind him that the 1950s was a time when women were shackled to the kitchen, and African-Americans held back by discrimination.
a person or organization who is behind the times , is old-fashioned because they have not changed while the world around them has changed: · People in these parts tend to be way behind the times when it comes to issues such as women's rights.· Once the giants of British retailing, they are now seen as being behind the times.
having a very strong, old-fashioned attitude to moral behaviour: · My aunt's very straitlaced - she'd be shocked if you mentioned sex.· They lost touch with Hermine after she married a very straightlaced Lutheran minister, and disappeared from the social scene.
informal someone who you think is old-fashioned and boring because they disapprove of new ideas and are unwilling to change their attitudes: · Don't be such a fuddy duddy!· The election broadcast made the President look like a fuddy duddy with ridiculously old-fashioned ideas.
informal someone, usually an old person, who you disapprove of because they prefer old-fashioned ideas and ways of doing things to modern ones: · The old fogies all sit together and talk about the old days.· This country is being run by a bunch of old fogies -- we need some fresh blood, people with initiative.
a group of people with old-fashioned opinions, who have been in an organization or society for a long time and oppose anyone who wants to change things: · Inevitably, the revolution is affecting the old guard much more than the rest of us.· The party's old guard have their own candidate for leader.
a person who believes that the old ways of doing things are the best, and who does not like modern methods or ideas: · I'm something of a traditionalist myself, I'd much rather use pen and paper than a word-processor.· There are still many traditionalists in the church who strongly oppose the idea of women priests.
to owe money to someone if you owe someone money, you have to pay them, either because you borrowed money from them or because you got something from them and have not yet paid for it: · The business collapsed, owing $50 million.· His job was to phone people who owed money and demand immediate payment.owe somebody something: · You still owe me $5.owe something to somebody: · We owe a lot of money to the bank.owe somebody something for something: · How much do we owe you for the milk?
if you are in debt , you owe a lot of money and you have difficulty paying it: · The helpline offers financial advice to people who are in debt.get into debt (=start being in debt): · We got into debt when my wife lost her job.be £1000/$2000 etc in debt (=owe that amount): · The report showed that most students were over £1000 in debt on leaving college.be heavily in debt (=owe a very large amount of money): · Karen was forced to give up her job to look after her daughter, and the family is now heavily in debt.
to owe money to your bank because you have spent more than you had in your bank account: · I'm always overdrawn at the end of the month.be $100/£200 etc overdrawn: · The bank wrote to tell us we were $500 overdrawn.
to have spent more than you have earned: · My son's bank account is usually in the red.· After five quarters in the red, the business will soon be profitable.be deep in the red (=owe a lot more than you have): · Overseas payments could keep the country deep in the red for the next decade.
to have not paid money, such as rent, that you should pay at a particular time every month, year etc - used especially in official or legal documents: · Two out of three tenants are in arrears.be 6 months/3 weeks etc in arrears: · The number of mortgages over 12 months in arrears is rising.be £1000/$200 etc in arrears: · The country is reported to be $6 billion in arrears on its $115 billion debt.be in arrears with/on: · The courts can obtain payments for those in arrears with consumer credit agreements.
to have not paid an amount that you should pay regularly at the right time: · I have no money in my bank account, and I'm behind with my rent.fall behind with something: · Unemployment is the major cause of people falling behind with their mortgage repayments.
done secretly done without anyone else knowing: · Many civilians were secretly killed and buried by soldiers.· My parents didn't approve of our relationship, and we had to meet in secret.· Operating in secrecy, intelligence agencies are often seen as mysterious and unaccountable for their actions.
if you do something on the quiet , you do it secretly, especially because you think that people will disapprove of what you are doing: · His doctor has told him he mustn't drink, but he still has the occasional brandy on the quiet.· He used to flirt with the two girls, on the quiet, when his wife wasn't looking.
if important official meetings, discussions, or decisions take place behind closed doors , they take place secretly without the public being allowed to see or hear them: · The board members met behind closed doors to discuss the deal.· Although America is a democracy, a lot of key decisions are made behind closed doors by unelected advisers.
if you do something in private or privately , you do it where other people cannot see or hear you: · Can I have a word with you in private?· Although party officials give the President their public support, many are saying in private that he may have to resign.· Generations of Native American children in state schools were punished for speaking their own language, even privately.
if you do something or say something unpleasant about someone behind their back , you do or say it without telling them: · I thought you were my friend. Now I find you've been talking about me behind my back.· People laughed at him behind his back.· He agrees with his boss to his face, but then criticizes him behind his back.go behind somebody's back: · I'm not happy about you going behind my back like that. You should have told me.
if you do something surreptitiously , you do it while other people are not looking because you do not want them to see you doing it: · She glanced surreptitiously up at the clock.· I found myself studying his face surreptitiously.· Greenpeace claim that toxic waste has been dumped surreptitiously on west coast beaches.
if you do something furtively , you do it in a way which makes you look as if you are keeping something secret, especially something wrong that you have done: · She looked around furtively to make sure no one was watching.· The older boys hovered furtively outside the school gates, clutching thinly rolled cigarettes.
to give money or help to a person/group/plan to give help, encouragement, money etc to someone because you want them to succeed: · The rebels were supported by a number of foreign governments who provided arms and money.· Employers support the training program by offering places for young people.
to support a person or plan by providing money or practical help - use this especially to talk about governments or other powerful groups that support something: · Several major insurance companies have agreed to back the healthcare reforms.· The plans for a new shopping mall are backed by the city council.
if you do something in support of someone or something, you do it to show that you support them: · The miners came out on strike in support of the nurses.· a big demonstration in support of democratic reforms
to support and encourage someone in what they are trying to achieve: · My parents were behind me from the start, and bought me my first violin when I was just 3 years old.· Maisha struggled for years trying to make it as an artist, but her husband, Rudy, was always behind her.be behind somebody all the way (=be ready to continue supporting them until they succeed): · Just do your best and remember that we are behind you all the way.
to support someone by saying that you agree with them or by giving information that shows they are right: · I was relying on you to back me up, why didn't you?· Eventually, after my impassioned pleas, backed up by my mother, Dad agreed to let me go to the concert.
to use all your influence and ability to make sure a person, group, or plan is successful: · Faced with a crisis, the Party united and threw its full weight behind the President.· Please throw your full weight behind us in our fund raising effort.
unkind comments or remarks something you say to someone that is unkind , makes them feel unhappy or upset: · He said some very unkind things about my clothes.· She was used to the unkind remarks made by other students. unkind about: · Why are you always so unkind about Christina?never say an unkind word about somebody: · I never heard her say an unkind word about anyone.
if you talk about someone behind their back , you say rude or unkind things about them when they are not present: · I'm sure the other girls are talking about me behind my back.· His name is Mr McLeod, but his students call him "Big Nose" behind his back.
criticizing someone or something in an unkind but clever way: · Hayward made some pretty caustic comments about your poetry.caustic wit/humour: · Some of his students were alienated by his caustic wit.
a remark that is cutting is very unkind and is intended to hurt someone's feelings, especially by making them feel stupid or unimportant: · Emily always managed to say something cutting whenever we met at a party.· At the meeting Mark made some cutting remarks about Sally, who wasn't there to defend herself.
someone who is bitchy or who makes bitchy remarks says unkind things about another person, especially about the way they look or behave - used especially by women when talking about other women: · She was always making bitchy comments about people's clothes and make-up.bitchy about/towards: · The other girls in my class were often bitchy towards me because I studied so hard.
a snide remark criticizes someone in an unkind way, but is not very direct: · As she uttered these words she realized they sounded snide and insinuating.snide comments/remarks: · The teacher kept making snide comments about my pronunciation, which really embarrassed me.
cruel and deliberately intended to hurt someone's feelings or to make their character seem very bad: · The Senator launched a vicious attack on the former President.· Someone is conducting a vicious campaign of false rumours against the Royal Family.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
He set off down the road with the rest of us following close behind. an important research project that is already two years behind schedule (=not ready at the time planned)COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I should have realized that he’d go behind my back (=do something without telling me). Fenella leaned forward, clasping her hands around her knees. James heard footsteps close behind him. Ronnie sped off, with his brother’s car following close behind. It was a small house, directly behind the church. The project has fallen behind schedule. It’s time to leave the past behind. Sarah, with her long legs, soon left the rest of us far behind. Reinforcements were available just behind the lines.
He set off down the road with the rest of us following close behind. an important research project that is already two years behind schedule (=not ready at the time planned) I should have realized that he’d go behind my back (=do something without telling me). Fenella leaned forward, clasping her hands around her knees. James heard footsteps close behind him. Ronnie sped off, with his brother’s car following close behind. It was a small house, directly behind the church. (=behind the edge of an area that is controlled by an enemy army)· Men from the First Airborne Division were dropped behind enemy lines.
The project has fallen behind schedule. It’s time to leave the past behind. Sarah, with her long legs, soon left the rest of us far behind. Reinforcements were available just behind the lines. (=be unable to pay enough money each month)· He fell behind with the mortgage when he lost his job.
(also fall behind with the payments British English) (=not make payments when you should)· I’d run up nearly £4,000 in debt, and was beginning to fall behind with the payments.
· At the moment the Democrats are trailing in the polls.
(=fail to pay your rent on time)· You could be evicted if you fall behind with the rent.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► ahead of/behind the curve► get behind somebody► can do something with one hand (tied) behind your back► the power behind the throne► wet behind the ears
1at or towards the back of a thing or person: - Do you think people are talking about you behind your back?
- He agrees with his boss to his face, but then criticizes him behind his back.
- His name is Mr McLeod, but his students call him "Big Nose'' behind his back.
- I'm not happy about you going behind my back like that. You should have told me.
- I'm sure the other girls are talking about me behind my back.
- I thought you were my friend. Now I find you've been talking about me behind my back.
- People laughed at him behind his back.
- Almost 3,000 people have been shown what it's like behind bars.
- An exercise in black humour set in an enclosed and hopeless world, the film ends with him remaining behind bars.
- First, her brother is self-evidently a petty fraudster better off behind bars.
- He sputtered up and down the aisle, saying the man should be behind bars.
- Louis, Ray has spent most of his adult life behind bars.
- More than 30 of those arrested were released from jail for lack of evidence, but the rest remain behind bars.
- Read in studio Britain's best weightlifters have held a unique training session ... behind bars.
- The most widely distributed Shas tract shows a smirking Weizman standing next to a grim-looking Deri behind bars.
- Bakewell senses that Rudd was the brains behind the fraud, but it was the brothers who were condemned to death.
- Builtin computers are the brains behind them.
- Maybe it was them who built the fences and he was the brains behind the organization.
- Although America is a democracy, a lot of key decisions are made behind closed doors by unelected advisers.
- The board members met behind closed doors to discuss the deal.
- And, unlike most other House panels, the ethics committee conducts virtually all of its business behind closed doors.
- As the jurors deliberated behind closed doors, the judge huddled with lawyers from both sides in his chambers.
- Real's punishment was to play subsequent matches behind closed doors.
- Schmoke spent most of his time behind closed doors.
- The hearings are behind closed doors, Newsweek says, and it has not discovered the names of the companies implicated.
- We think, but we don't really know what they were saying to each other behind closed doors.
- Although San Marcos may have been the first city in the county to issue such bonds, San Diego was right behind.
- And lorry drivers are right behind them, adding their names to a petition.
- Babe Connelly was now the boss, and Daley and a few other ambitious young men were right behind him.
- He says that the police were right behind them - he begged his brother to stop.
- Male speaker I am certain the people of the estates affected by joyriders will be right behind this action.
- The feet of Stewpid are right behind me now, pounding louder than my heart beats.
- The New Jersey Nets were right behind with a 22 percent rise to $ 41. 62.
- The police were right behind, and a cop tackled him, smashing his face into the sidewalk.
- Although he had retired, Brown remained active behind the scenes for years.
- But he remained active behind the scenes for years.
- Father Peter Vaghi was lobbying behind the scenes to have himself named pastor.
- Several sources said Thibadeau is maneuvering behind the scenes to avoid appearances that he is playing a political game.
- The tournaments are very popular events and the organisation behind the scenes is always excellent.
- This production will feature a combination of new faces and veterans on stage and behind the scenes.
- We went behind the scenes for the latest in our series, Inside the Globe.
- Where the book scores is in its revelations about attitudes towards opera management and about deals that went on behind the scenes.
- Whoever is stirring it behind the scenes, we have the entire Cabinet to choose from, as well as Landless.
- Bahlman is throwing his weight behind the cultural center proposal.
- But Gloucester learnt their lesson and threw their weight behind the task.
- Chris is following in the footsteps of other Merseyside sports personalities by throwing his weight behind drugs prevention.
- Feminists threw their weight behind Mrs Killea's campaign, and hundreds of students attended a rally in support of abortion rights.
- The idea has been mooted of throwing our weight behind her version.
- When the idea hit the streets, we at Guitarist were unanimous in wanting to throw our weight behind the project.
- Why he chose to throw his weight behind a man who stood such a slender chance remains unclear.
- Anticipate the problems your client may have with self-monitoring ahead of time, and rehearse strategies to deal with those situations.
- Issues such as job assignments and reduced overtime are worked out ahead of time.
- It is hard to lay down rules about this ahead of time.
- It is important to check this list ahead of time so that you have everything ready to complete the demonstration.
- Linear regression, for example, requires all the data to be collected ahead of time and then processed all at once.
- Many of them had prepared notes ahead of time, and Drake took lots of notes.
- They were trying to learn to perform a role whose meaning and importance they could not grasp ahead of time.
- When you surf to a new Web page, you have no idea ahead of time whether it contains a Java program.
- Once the giants of British retailing, they are now seen as being behind the times.
- People in these parts tend to be way behind the times when it comes to issues such as women's rights.
- The company's marketing plan is a little behind the times.
- As we went towards the platforms, I said, she's frightened of seeming behind the times.
- I was about fifty years behind the times.
- New York was not behind the times in strange smells.
- Newtonmore is a little quiet; some would say behind the times.
- Painting nearly always fifty years or even a hundred behind the times.
- We may be the ones 257 who are behind the times.
- You're behind the times, Arthur, you're old-fashioned.
- But Gloucester learnt their lesson and threw their weight behind the task.
- Chris is following in the footsteps of other Merseyside sports personalities by throwing his weight behind drugs prevention.
- Feminists threw their weight behind Mrs Killea's campaign, and hundreds of students attended a rally in support of abortion rights.
- The idea has been mooted of throwing our weight behind her version.
- When the idea hit the streets, we at Guitarist were unanimous in wanting to throw our weight behind the project.
- Why he chose to throw his weight behind a man who stood such a slender chance remains unclear.
I turned to speak to the person standing behind me. Someone could easily creep up behind us. The car behind was hooting impatiently. Jane shut the door behind her. The manager was sitting behind a large desk.close behind/not far behind He set off down the road with the rest of us following close behind. ► Don’t say ‘behind of’: He hid behind a chair (NOT behind of a chair).2not as successful or not having made as much progress as someone or something else: Mark’s always behind the rest of his class in mathematics. This victory lifts Ferguson’s team into fifth place, nine points behind leaders Norwich. Europe was falling behind in the important field of computer technology.3used to say that someone is late in doing what they have to do: This work should have been finished yesterday. I’m getting terribly behind. Victor had fallen behind with his mortgage payments after losing his job. an important research project that is already two years behind schedule (=not ready at the time planned)4used for talking about the hidden reason for something: I wonder what’s behind this change of plan. Perhaps a bitter experience lay behind her anger.5supporting a person, idea etc: The workers are very much behind these proposals. I suppose I’m lucky because my parents were behind me all the way.6responsible for a plan, idea etc or for organizing something: It was alleged that foreign agents were behind the recent violence. The Rotary Club is behind the fund-raising for the new hospital.7if an unpleasant experience or situation is behind you, it no longer upsets you or affects your life: Now you can put all these worries behind you. a chance to start a new life and leave all your troubles behind8if you have experience behind you, you have gained valuable skills or important qualities that can be used: Marjorie is one of the top designers in the business, with years of experience behind her.9used when the real facts about a situation or someone’s character are hidden by the way things seem or by the way a person behaves: We were determined to find the truth behind this mystery. You could see the burning hatred behind Graham’s calm manner.10if a student stays behind after school or after a lesson, they stay after it has finished → behind somebody’s back at back2(9), → behind bars at bar1(7), → behind the times at time1(38)THESAURUSbehind at or towards the back of something, and often hidden by it: · The sun went behind a cloud.· I got stuck behind a truck on the way to the airport.at the back British English, in (the) back American English behind something, especially a building: · There’s a small garden at the back of the cottage.· Their house has a pool in the back.at/to the rear written behind something, especially a building. At/to the rear sounds rather formal and is used especially in written descriptions: · They parked in a small car park at the rear of the hotel.· There is a small seating area to the rear.in the background if someone or something is in the background, it is behind the place where the main activity is happening: · If you look carefully at the painting, you will see several men sitting at a table in the background.behind1 preposition, adverbbehind2 noun
behindbehind2 noun [countable] EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- But Sixo had already melted into the woods before the lash could unfurl itself on his indigo behind.
- Craig: Cheryl's not so much always behind as all behind.
- I denied homosexual inclinations but he still made me bend down so that he could inspect my behind with a wooden spatula.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I should have realized that he’d go behind my back (=do something without telling me). Fenella leaned forward, clasping her hands around her knees. James heard footsteps close behind him. Ronnie sped off, with his brother’s car following close behind. It was a small house, directly behind the church. The project has fallen behind schedule. It’s time to leave the past behind. Sarah, with her long legs, soon left the rest of us far behind. Reinforcements were available just behind the lines.
I should have realized that he’d go behind my back (=do something without telling me). Fenella leaned forward, clasping her hands around her knees. James heard footsteps close behind him. Ronnie sped off, with his brother’s car following close behind. It was a small house, directly behind the church. (=behind the edge of an area that is controlled by an enemy army)· Men from the First Airborne Division were dropped behind enemy lines.
The project has fallen behind schedule. It’s time to leave the past behind. Sarah, with her long legs, soon left the rest of us far behind. Reinforcements were available just behind the lines. (=be unable to pay enough money each month)· He fell behind with the mortgage when he lost his job.
(also fall behind with the payments British English) (=not make payments when you should)· I’d run up nearly £4,000 in debt, and was beginning to fall behind with the payments.
· At the moment the Democrats are trailing in the polls.
(=fail to pay your rent on time)· You could be evicted if you fall behind with the rent.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► ahead of/behind the curve► get behind somebody► can do something with one hand (tied) behind your back► the power behind the throne► wet behind the ears
informal the part of your body that you sit on SYN bottom- Do you think people are talking about you behind your back?
- He agrees with his boss to his face, but then criticizes him behind his back.
- His name is Mr McLeod, but his students call him "Big Nose'' behind his back.
- I'm not happy about you going behind my back like that. You should have told me.
- I'm sure the other girls are talking about me behind my back.
- I thought you were my friend. Now I find you've been talking about me behind my back.
- People laughed at him behind his back.
- Almost 3,000 people have been shown what it's like behind bars.
- An exercise in black humour set in an enclosed and hopeless world, the film ends with him remaining behind bars.
- First, her brother is self-evidently a petty fraudster better off behind bars.
- He sputtered up and down the aisle, saying the man should be behind bars.
- Louis, Ray has spent most of his adult life behind bars.
- More than 30 of those arrested were released from jail for lack of evidence, but the rest remain behind bars.
- Read in studio Britain's best weightlifters have held a unique training session ... behind bars.
- The most widely distributed Shas tract shows a smirking Weizman standing next to a grim-looking Deri behind bars.
- Bakewell senses that Rudd was the brains behind the fraud, but it was the brothers who were condemned to death.
- Builtin computers are the brains behind them.
- Maybe it was them who built the fences and he was the brains behind the organization.
- Although America is a democracy, a lot of key decisions are made behind closed doors by unelected advisers.
- The board members met behind closed doors to discuss the deal.
- And, unlike most other House panels, the ethics committee conducts virtually all of its business behind closed doors.
- As the jurors deliberated behind closed doors, the judge huddled with lawyers from both sides in his chambers.
- Real's punishment was to play subsequent matches behind closed doors.
- Schmoke spent most of his time behind closed doors.
- The hearings are behind closed doors, Newsweek says, and it has not discovered the names of the companies implicated.
- We think, but we don't really know what they were saying to each other behind closed doors.
- Although San Marcos may have been the first city in the county to issue such bonds, San Diego was right behind.
- And lorry drivers are right behind them, adding their names to a petition.
- Babe Connelly was now the boss, and Daley and a few other ambitious young men were right behind him.
- He says that the police were right behind them - he begged his brother to stop.
- Male speaker I am certain the people of the estates affected by joyriders will be right behind this action.
- The feet of Stewpid are right behind me now, pounding louder than my heart beats.
- The New Jersey Nets were right behind with a 22 percent rise to $ 41. 62.
- The police were right behind, and a cop tackled him, smashing his face into the sidewalk.
- Although he had retired, Brown remained active behind the scenes for years.
- But he remained active behind the scenes for years.
- Father Peter Vaghi was lobbying behind the scenes to have himself named pastor.
- Several sources said Thibadeau is maneuvering behind the scenes to avoid appearances that he is playing a political game.
- The tournaments are very popular events and the organisation behind the scenes is always excellent.
- This production will feature a combination of new faces and veterans on stage and behind the scenes.
- We went behind the scenes for the latest in our series, Inside the Globe.
- Where the book scores is in its revelations about attitudes towards opera management and about deals that went on behind the scenes.
- Whoever is stirring it behind the scenes, we have the entire Cabinet to choose from, as well as Landless.
- Bahlman is throwing his weight behind the cultural center proposal.
- But Gloucester learnt their lesson and threw their weight behind the task.
- Chris is following in the footsteps of other Merseyside sports personalities by throwing his weight behind drugs prevention.
- Feminists threw their weight behind Mrs Killea's campaign, and hundreds of students attended a rally in support of abortion rights.
- The idea has been mooted of throwing our weight behind her version.
- When the idea hit the streets, we at Guitarist were unanimous in wanting to throw our weight behind the project.
- Why he chose to throw his weight behind a man who stood such a slender chance remains unclear.
- Anticipate the problems your client may have with self-monitoring ahead of time, and rehearse strategies to deal with those situations.
- Issues such as job assignments and reduced overtime are worked out ahead of time.
- It is hard to lay down rules about this ahead of time.
- It is important to check this list ahead of time so that you have everything ready to complete the demonstration.
- Linear regression, for example, requires all the data to be collected ahead of time and then processed all at once.
- Many of them had prepared notes ahead of time, and Drake took lots of notes.
- They were trying to learn to perform a role whose meaning and importance they could not grasp ahead of time.
- When you surf to a new Web page, you have no idea ahead of time whether it contains a Java program.
- Once the giants of British retailing, they are now seen as being behind the times.
- People in these parts tend to be way behind the times when it comes to issues such as women's rights.
- The company's marketing plan is a little behind the times.
- As we went towards the platforms, I said, she's frightened of seeming behind the times.
- I was about fifty years behind the times.
- New York was not behind the times in strange smells.
- Newtonmore is a little quiet; some would say behind the times.
- Painting nearly always fifty years or even a hundred behind the times.
- We may be the ones 257 who are behind the times.
- You're behind the times, Arthur, you're old-fashioned.
- But Gloucester learnt their lesson and threw their weight behind the task.
- Chris is following in the footsteps of other Merseyside sports personalities by throwing his weight behind drugs prevention.
- Feminists threw their weight behind Mrs Killea's campaign, and hundreds of students attended a rally in support of abortion rights.
- The idea has been mooted of throwing our weight behind her version.
- When the idea hit the streets, we at Guitarist were unanimous in wanting to throw our weight behind the project.
- Why he chose to throw his weight behind a man who stood such a slender chance remains unclear.