on the back of

idiom

1
: because of or on the strength of (something)
Profits have increased on the back of improved international sales.
2
disapproving : by using the efforts of (other people)
The company has achieved record profits on the back of cheap labor.

Examples of on the back of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To really minimize the mess, try a hanging shoe organizer on the back of your closet door. Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 6 Apr. 2025 Bing Guan | Reuters The oil price outlook is being hit with more bearish forecasts on the back of U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping and market-hammering tariff announcements. Natasha Turak, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2025 Vietnam's economy has boomed in recent years on the back of soaring manufacturing and exports. John Ruwitch, NPR, 6 Apr. 2025 So Mamie handcuffs her and puts her on the back of her horse. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for on the back of

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“On the back of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20back%20of. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!