stab in the back

plural stabs in the back

1. An act of betrayal or treachery.

   Vice-President Dick Cheney viewed the move by Britain—“perfidious Albion,” as he put it—as “a stab in the back,” according to a former senior intelligence official.

   2009 March 30, Dick Cheney, quotee, “Albion, I stab at thee”, in The Economist, →ISSN

   1 more example

   Another Russian general — Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev — made his own video appeal, calling any actions against the Russian state a “stab in the back of the country and president.”

   2023 June 28, Julian E. Barnes, Helene Cooper, Eric Schmitt, “Russian General Knew About Mercenary Chief’s Rebellion Plans, U.S. Officials Say”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   Synonyms: perfidy, prodition, treason, betrayal, breach of promise, breach of trust, double-dealing, Judas kiss

present singular third person stabs in the back · participle present stabbing in the back · participle past stabbed in the back · past stabbed in the back

1. idiomaticTo betray (somebody).

   Speaking on February 1, Cash said: "Today, transport workers who are risking their lives keeping our country moving have found out they have been stabbed in the back by the Government, who have extended the public sector pay freeze to the transport sector […].

   2021 February 10, Richard Clinnick, “Network News: Fears of pay freeze prompt union strike threat”, in RAIL, number 924, page 24

   1 more example

   “What concerns me,” Ryder said, as if they’d been having an entirely different conversation, “is that you’re angry right now, Harper. Menoris was a teammate and you trusted her; I get that. Everyone’s been stabbed in the back at some point or another. But are you going to Illium to complete the mission, or to get revenge?”

   2017 November, N. K. Jemisin, Mac Walters, chapter 5, in Mass Effect Andromeda: Initiation, 1st edition (Science Fiction), Titan Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 96

   Synonyms: forswear, sell out, traitorize, assfuck, betray, burn, cop out, cross out