世博习惯用语【3】back someone up 支持

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to back someone up

Definition: to support someone

【世博精解】

to back somebody up，就是用背把某人扛起来，很容易想到是支持某人的意思。Back这里用作动词，实际上，back做动词本来就有支持的意思，常常指提供具体的帮助以支持. 例如：The company backed its candidate with a $1,000-a-plate dinner. 实际上，at one’s back 或者 at the back of sb.也表示支持某人的意思，用了back的名词形式。但是值得注意的是get one's back up虽然形式同back sb. up非常像, 却是令人不快的意思，就是说惹得别人背过身去了，那就是让别人不高兴了，例如：Tom got his back up when I said he was wrong. 好了，我们还是回到今天的习语back someone up吧。

Example

Lisa: How was today’s meeting? Did the boss cast endless questions to you and you were left like a perfect idiot?
Tom: What are you talking about?! He backed me up in the meeting and said that my idea was good.