stabbing in the back

Ultimate disloyal act

Stabbing in the back is betraying someone who trusts you.

The image is of attacking from behind—where someone can't defend themselves: After all I did for him, firing me was a stabbing in the back.

The phrase emphasizes treachery over mere harm.

Someone who does this is stabbing you in the back; someone who has done it stabbed you in the back.

Related

deceit · double agents · political scandals · perfidy · espionage · betrayal · treason · disloyalty · breach of trust · fraudulently · subterfuge · sabotage · backstabbing · duplicity · turncoat · sold out · resentment · falsehood

Opposites
loyalty and betrayal

stabbing in the backloyalty

Faithful commitment to another

faithfulness · having someone's back · standing by · keeping faith · devotion

method of confrontation

stabbing in the backfrontal assault

Attack from the front

declaring war · throwing down the gauntlet · squaring off

support vs. harm

stabbing in the backsupporting

Bearing or sustaining

defending · championing · backing up · protecting · vouching for

Family

stab, stabbing, stabbed, stabs, stabber, back, backs, backed, backing

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG