backseats
|back-seat-s|
/ˈbæk.siːt/
(backseat)
secondary position
Etymology
'backseat' originates from Old English elements, specifically the words 'bæc' and 'setl', where 'bæc' meant 'back' (the rear part) and 'setl' meant 'seat/place to sit'.
'backseat' formed as a straightforward compound of 'back' + 'seat' in early Modern English and became commonly used in the 19th century with the rise of carriages and later motor vehicles to denote the rear seat; the metaphorical sense (as in 'backseat driver') developed later.
Initially it meant 'a seat at the back' (literal, physical seat), but over time it also developed a figurative meaning of 'giving unsolicited advice or direction' (as in 'backseat driver').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the seats at the rear of a vehicle; the rear seating area.
The children were fighting in the backseats during the long drive.
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Verb 1
third-person singular of 'backseat': to give unsolicited advice or directions (especially to a driver); to interfere with someone's actions from a passive position.
She always backseats me when I'm driving, telling me which lane to choose.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2025/12/27 03:28