backup man
- noun
- /ˈbækʌp mæn/
:
hombre de apoyo
- When the team leader was injured, the backup man stepped in to finish the task.
Examples
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The backup man is here.
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They designated a backup man in case anything went wrong during the climb.
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In risky police operations, a backup man is always assigned as extra support.
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Who is your backup man for this mission?
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As the lead officer, he always had a backup man ready for emergency situations.
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When the team leader fell ill, the backup man took charge of the operation.
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In case of a threat, the backup man was stationed nearby to provide support.
Synonyms
367
2.9
A person who takes another person's place when needed
13
4.2
A person who takes another person's place, for example in a performance or at work
1
7.4
A person who helps someone but is not the main person
1
5.2
A person who does many different jobs and fills in when needed
Antonyms
How Central
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly compositional: 'backup' (a person who fills in/supports) modifies 'man', so 'backup man' straightforwardly denotes a male who serves as backup or support. This modifier+noun pattern is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Backup man comes from the picture of someone standing at your back and ready to step up to help if you need it. That's why it means 'a man who supports or replaces another'.