Definition of backbone

backbone

noun

• metaphor: having a "backbone" endows one with courage, will.

  Why do you let your manager take advantage of you? Grow a backbone.

  • See more words with the same meaning: brave.

  Last edited on Jun 17 2010. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA on Jun 17 2010.

Adding definitions is temporarily disabled. (We're doing some maintenance on the site...)

Share Tweet E-mail	More info:	Interactive stats:
	R  Related words	Usage Vulgarity SlangMap

Related words

Slang terms with the same meaning

Other terms relating to 'brave':
balls of steel	Definitions include: metaphorical testicles that people with courage or gall have.
cowboy up	Definitions include: to face a daunting task, as a brave cowboy would.
brass clankers	Definitions include: Literally, brass testicles.
edgy	Definitions include: socially dangerous or daring; intellectually provocative; tending to induce unease or stress in viewers.
grit	Definitions include: cigarette.
balls out	Definitions include: See also balls to the wall.
balls	Definitions include: exclamation of disappointment.
gutsy	Definitions include: full of courage.
ballsy	Definitions include: brave.
cojones	Definitions include: testicles.

Slang terms with the same root words

None. How about some random words?

no biggie	Definitions include: an unimportant thing.
dawgie	Definitions include: alternate spelling of "dawg".
vc	Definitions include: (grammar TOSD) cold variant, 1s
missoula plumbing and heating	Definitions include: missoula plumbing and heating is a term used to describe a home service business in Missoula, MT.
quick outie	Definitions include: a person who leaves quickly when something bad is about to happen.
blue-collar job	Definitions include: a job requiring unskilled or manual labor.
sacred cow	Definitions include: something that should not be questioned.
tits and clits	Definitions include: females.
surface	Definitions include: in a computing user interface, to present something to the user.
bunny boiler	Definitions include: a crazy, dangerous woman.

How common is this slang?

Voting is temporarily disabled. (We're doing some maintenance on the site...)

Don't click the following.
I use it	(19)
No longer use it	(2)
Heard it but never used it	(4)
Have never heard it	(3)

How vulgar is this slang?

Average of 20 votes: 23%  (See the most vulgar words.)

Least vulgar

Most vulgar

Your vote: None

Voting is temporarily disabled. (We're doing some maintenance on the site...)

Where is this slang used?

Logged-in users can add themselves to the map. Login, Register, Login instantly with Facebook.

Link to this slang definition

To link to this term in a web page or blog, insert the following.

<a href="http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/backbone">backbone</a>

To link to this term in a wiki such as Wikipedia, insert the following.

[http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/backbone backbone]

Some wikis use a different format for links, so be sure to check the documentation.