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.
Southwest last month reported fourth-quarter profits that surpassed Wall Street estimates, on the back of improved airfares and strong holiday travel demand. Deborah Sophia, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025 There are countless examples of teams that have been burned when signing a non-elite goaltender to a substantial contract on the back of a career-best or close-to-career-best season, including Jack Campbell, Cal Petersen, Ville Husso, Joonas Korpisalo and Philipp Grubauer. Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025 There is a target on the back of the Mets, as there is for every contender, and Lindor will play a crucial role in making sure the standards are upheld and the winning continues. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2025 For those who thirst for the quintessential hotel bar for late-night meet-ups, the one at Château Royal has your number written on the back of a cocktail napkin. Melinda Newman, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for on the back of 

Dictionary Entries Near on the back of

Cite this Entry

“On the back of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20back%20of. Accessed 21 Feb. 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!