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Definition 2024


back_in

back in

English

Verb

to back in

  1. To reverse a vehicle into a space.
    • 1877, Great Britain, Parliament, House of Commons, Accounts and papers of the House of Commons, page 39:
      ... the engine driver drew over the points and at once backed into the siding. He backed in steadily and stopped. The siding would not hold the train, and the guard hooked off five waggons, and the engine ...
  2. (idiomatic) A betting term from French hazard
    • 1921, Henry Luttrell, Crockford's : Or Life in the West Sketch No. III
      Whatever you throw is your chance. I called five for the main, which is the out chance, and threw seven to it, which is the in chance. If I throw five first, I lose, and if seven I win. You can back me in by betting the odds, or you can back me out, by taking the odds, the bank answers either way.

See also