back to back
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back to back
1. adjective Consecutive and in quick succession; one after another. Typically hyphenated and used as a modifier before a noun. The team secured back-to-back victories this afternoon, thanks to their fantastic goalkeeper. Ugh, I still haven't been able to take a lunch break because of these stupid back-to-back phone calls! Back-to-back goals have wiped away the home team's lead in a matter of minutes.
2. adjective Of houses, built so that the back gardens or terraces of two houses are conjoined and then bisected by a partitioning wall or small alley. Typically hyphenated and used as a modifier before a noun. Primarily heard in UK. We were worried that our new back-to-back house wouldn't offer as much privacy, but our terrace is completely our own. The new housing estate is going to be made up entirely of back-to-back homes. We need more land for our dogs than a back-to-back house can offer.
3. adverb Done or occurring consecutively and in quick succession. They're going to show the two films back to back this afternoon. I have doctor's appointments back to back this afternoon—I can't possibly squeeze in a meeting too! Now that the team has won championships back to back, they definitely have the makings of a dynasty.
4. noun A house with back-to-back gardens or terraces. Often hyphenated. Primarily heard in UK. The new housing estate is going to be made up entirely of back-to-backs. We were worried that our new back-to-back wouldn't offer as much privacy, but our terrace is completely our own. I've never lived in a back to back before—I think it's pretty cool.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
back-to-back
1. Lit. adjacent and touching backs. They started the duel by standing back-to-back. Two people who stand back-to-back can manage to see in all directions.
2. Fig. following immediately. (Actually such things are front to back, with the "end" of one event followed in time by the beginning of another.) The doctor had appointments set up back-to-back all day long. I have three lecture courses back-to-back every day of the week.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
back to back
1. With backs close together or touching, as in In the first and second rows of the bus, the seats were back to back, an unusual arrangement. This term also can be applied to persons who stand facing in opposite directions and with their backs touching. [Mid-1800s]
2. Consecutively, one after another, as in I'm exhausted; I had three meetings back to back. [Mid-1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ˌback to ˈback
1 if two people stand back to back, they stand with their backs facing or touching each other
2 if two or more things happen back to back, they happen one after the other: back-to-back victories/successes
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
back to back
Consecutively and without interruption: presented three speeches back to back.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.