Definition

Adverb 1. On the back or shoulders: In a position where a person or object is being carried on the back or shoulders of another. 2. Astride on the hips: In a position where a person is being carried sitting on the hips of another. 3. On top of and supported by: In a manner where one object is transported on top of and is supported by another, larger object.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • She carried her child pig-a-back through the crowded market.
  • The small generator was transported pig-a-back on the larger truck.
  • He gave his tired friend a ride pig-a-back.

Advanced Usage

• "To ride pig-a-back": To be carried in this manner.
  • The children loved to ride pig-a-back on their father.
• "To carry something pig-a-back": To transport an object by having it mounted on top of another.
  • The satellite was launched pig-a-back on the main rocket.

Variants and Related Words

• Piggyback (Adverb, Adjective, Verb, Noun): The more common modern spelling and a more versatile word form.
  • Adverb/Adjective: "a piggyback ride."
  • Verb: "to piggyback on an existing network."
  • Noun: "He gave me a piggyback."
• Pickaback (Adverb): An older, less common variant with the same meaning.

Synonyms

• On someone's back: A more literal and common phrase.
• On someone's shoulders: Specifies the shoulder area.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• To piggyback on something (Verb): To use an existing system, idea, or success as a basis for one's own advantage or progress. (Note: This is a related verb form of the more common variant "piggyback," not a direct phrasal verb of "pig-a-back" itself).
  • The new software update piggybacks on the previous version's architecture.

Related Idioms

• To get a free ride / To get a lift: Informal idioms for benefiting from the effort of others, conceptually related to the idea of being carried.
  • His success wasn't earned; he just got a free ride on his family's reputation.

Adverb

1. on the back or shoulder or astraddle on the hip
   • she carried her child piggyback
2. on a railroad flatcar
   • the trailer rode piggyback across the country