The Various Meanings of “Watch Your Back!”

Metaphorical & Literal

Definition #1 — at least at the end(?) of a long, snowy Minnesota winter — is easy: “Watch your back!” literally means, “Be careful you don’t strain your back [while shoveling].”

Which leaves two, more metaphorical definitions.

Definition #2: “Be on the alert (for an unseen or unsuspected betrayer)”; to a friend or intimate.

Definition #3: Tactical (vs. solicitous):

Sargeant: “My platoon is attacking the machine gun nest from the left flank.
Commanding officer: “OK, but watch your back.”

See also, “Which ‘Done” Did They Mean?“; “The Many Guises of ‘Hot Dog’“; “The Multiple Meanings of “What Do You Know?!?”“; and ““Shut Up!” Has 9 Different Meanings? Shut Up!! (No, YOU Shut Up!).

Plus: ““Take it Outside”: the ORIGINAL Meaning“; and “Small Word, LOTS of Meanings: “On.”



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