Stab somebody in the back
to do something that harms someone who likes and trusts you (SYN: betray)
- He had been stabbed in the back by the people whom he had trusted.
- Economic instability has made it much easier for people to stab the people they know in the back.
Noun equal phrase:
Backstabber: Someone who says harmful things about you when you are not there to defend yourself (SYN: judas, betrayer, traitor)– He’s such a backstabber.
- He pretended to have my back in front of the boss before the meeting, but he did the opposite.
A snake (in the grass): An unpleasant person who cannot be trusted– Be careful, David
- she’s a snake and will take advantage of you.
Similar phrases with different meanings:
A slap on the back: to hit someone on the back in a friendly way, often as a way of praising them
- Come on, guys, he is the winner – give him a slap on the back.
A pat on the back: praise for sth that you have done well.– He deserved a pat on the back for all the services he has given.
- I got a pat on the back for my hard work from my boss.
More to know:
sticks and stones may break my bones, (but words can never hurt me):
said in order to show that people cannot be hurt by unpleasant things that are said to them
