put batteries in someone's back

verb

To enable, encourage, or incite, especially in order to do one's bidding; to fuel or spur.

Similar
energise
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verbput batteries in someone's back (third-person singular simple present puts batteries in someone's back, present participle putting batteries in someone's back, simple past and past participle put batteries in someone's back)

present singular third person puts batteries in someone's back · participle present putting batteries in someone's back

  1. idiomaticTo enable, encourage, or incite, especially in order to do one's bidding; to fuel or spur.

    Synonyms: energise

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo enable, encourage, or incite, especially in order to do one's bidding; to fuel or spur.

Similar
energise

Origin

From the analogy of placing batteries in a toy in order to get it to operate.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

put batteries in someone's back. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/put%20batteries%20in%20someone's%20back

MLA

“put batteries in someone's back.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/put%20batteries%20in%20someone's%20back. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “put batteries in someone's back,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/put%20batteries%20in%20someone's%20back.

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