backbone of
32
3.4
- idiom
:
pilar de
- Nurses are often considered the backbone of any good healthcare system.
- form the backbone of
- constitute the backbone of
- become the backbone of
So I think that nation states remain the backbone of our civilization.
- So I think that nation states remain the backbone of our civilization.
- And so reason to bring all this up is that deals are the backbone of everything.
- People have to get a little bit of toughness back, a lot of toughness back because the backbone of of this world is built off of toughness.
- So accounting would be incredibly valuable to make sure that you understand the, the backbone, the financial backbone of your business.
- Circle was even one of the customers, which is wild because Circle is the backbone of USDC.
- And those, that's where the backbone of people who were willing to those are strong ties, right?
- SolarWinds was very, it was it, it provided a background, a backbone of security for hundreds, thousands of different companies.
- It's because instead of having a backbone of being a man, they would rather throw you under the bus and make themselves look good.
- But, you know, it's working off the backbone of like, you know, it's fictitious narrative, like fiction, you know, what about political books?
Examples
-
In the 1940s, jute cultivation became the backbone of the local economy.
Academic text (2002) -
The backbone of the system.
-
Public schools are the backbone of this society.
-
It's pretty much the the backbone of any great story.
-
You are the backbone of our nation!
-
So I think that nation states remain the backbone of our civilization.
-
Millions are used worldwide and have formed the backbone of network supply management for the past three decades.
Academic text (2003) -
These hard-working immigrants are the backbone of this country!
-
And on behalf of the administration, I want to welcome you, and let you know that we consider our nursing staff to be the backbone of this hospital.
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We call them teachers, cops, firefighters, nurses, librarians, the backbone of our economy.
Synonyms
∞
3.0
The main support, reason, or way that something happens
468
3.2
The most important central part of something
204
1.0
The bottom part that supports something, for example an organ or object
56
3.7
The strength or courage to do what is difficult
46
5.3
A very important idea or part that something depends on
37
4.2
An important idea or thing that other things depend on
33
4.8
A main thing that supports and keeps something strong
21
5.4
Central part of an idea or argument
18
4.2
The basic principles that support a system, idea, or group
18
4.9
The main support that people or things depend on
12
5.0
A basic support or principle that something depends on
6
5.1
The most important part that holds other parts together in a system
Antonyms
How Central
46
5.3
32
3.4
- Specialized
127
3.6
141
1.4
∞
1.0
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
backbone + of
The sense 'the most important support or foundation' is directly derivable from 'backbone' (chief support/strength) combined with the relational preposition 'of' specifying what is supported; this follows a standard, compositional noun + of pattern. The metaphorical use is common and cross-linguistically mirrored, so a B1 learner who knows 'backbone' would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The phrase backbone of comes from the body's spine. The backbone is the main bone that holds the body up and gives it strength, so calling something the backbone of a team or project means it is the main 'support' or 'foundation' that everything depends on.