stab in back
Betray a friend
To stab someone in the back is to betray them, especially while pretending to be their ally or friend.
The image is of attacking someone who trusts you enough to turn away: He stabbed me in the back after I helped him get the promotion.
The noun form is backstab or back-stabbing: corporate back-stabbing, a backstabber.
- betrayViolate a trust
- traitorOne who betrays allegiance
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
- et tu BruteLatin accusation of betrayal
deceive · kiss of death · double-cross · double agent · Judas · knife · blade · wound · breach of trust · trust · fair weather friend · friend · enemy · scheme · plot · conspiracy · cloak and dagger · behind closed doors
- betrayalbackstab, betray, betrayal, traitor, backstabber
- dirty tacticsdirty trick, dirty tricks, dirty pool, foul play, cheap shot
- adding insult to injuryrub it in, twist the knife, make it worse, aggravate, worsen