back of

back of

A child hides behind the back of a large armchair.

Definition
  1. Preposition (American English):
    • At the rear of; behind: "back of" indicates a position that is located at the back side of something, often used synonymously with "behind" or "at the back of."
Usage Examples
  • (The garage is located behind the house.)
  • (She positioned herself behind the crowd to see more clearly.)
  • (The children were playing behind the school building.)
Advanced Usage
  • "back of" is primarily used in informal or regional American English, especially in spoken contexts. In more formal writing, "behind" or "at the back of" is preferred.
  • "back of beyond": a phrase meaning a very remote or isolated place.
    • They lived in a small village back of beyond. (They lived in an extremely remote area.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Back (n, adj, adv, v): the rear part of something; opposite of front.
    • He sat in the back of the car. (The rear seat.)
  • Backward (adj, adv): directed toward the back; in a reverse direction.
    • She took a backward step. (A step toward the rear.)
  • Backside (n): the rear or buttocks; the back part of something.
    • The backside of the building faces the river. (The rear side.)
Synonyms
  • Behind: at the back of; in a position further back than.
    • The cat hid behind the sofa. (Similar to "back of the sofa.")
  • At the rear of: located at the back part of something.
    • The garden is at the rear of the property. (Equivalent to "back of the property.")
Phrasal Verbs
  • Back off: to retreat or move away from a position.
    • He told the dog to back off. (Move away.)
  • Back up: to move backward; to support someone.
    • Please back up the car. (Move it in reverse.)
Related Idioms
  • Back of one's hand: a gesture of rejection or contempt.
    • He gave the suggestion the back of his hand. (He dismissed it rudely.)
  • Back of beyond: a very remote location (as above).
    • They moved to a farm back of beyond. (A very isolated place.)

Note: The word "back of" is considered a fixed prepositional phrase in American English, not a compound word like "backpack" or "background." It is used to describe spatial relationships.