on someone's back

prepositional phrase

Nagging or harassing someone.

“My mother's been on my back about getting a job.”

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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. informalNagging or harassing someone.

    My mother's been on my back about getting a job.

  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, someone's, back.

Translations

French avoir quelqu'un sur le dos
  • avoir quelqu'un sur le dosTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

on someone's back. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20someone's%20back

MLA

“on someone's back.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20someone's%20back. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on someone's back,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20someone's%20back.

Source: on someone's back on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.