to the backbone
- idiom
- Informal
:
hasta los huesos
- She was loyal to the backbone and never wavered in her support.
Examples
-
He opposes injustice to the backbone, no matter what it costs him.
-
Their patriotism was to the backbone, even during difficult times.
-
She believes in her project to the backbone.
-
They are committed to the backbone to ensure success.
-
He opposes injustice to the backbone, no matter what it costs him.
-
She was loyal to the backbone and never wavered in her support.
-
Their patriotism was to the backbone, even during difficult times.
Synonyms
92
1.0
In a strong way that shows you will not change your decision
15
5.8
Firmly and without changing their mind
14
4.4
In a firm and determined way without changing your mind
2
8.8
A very deep feeling that reaches someone's heart
2
7.0
Shows firm determination that does not change
In a way that shows strong effort and loyalty to a task, person or cause
Antonyms
How Deeply
- Literature
2
8.8
- Informal
4
5.6
1
3.6
885
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
to + the + backbone
The noun 'backbone' readily carries the metaphorical sense of core strength or courage, so a learner who knows that meaning can partly infer an adverbial sense of thoroughness or firm commitment. However, using 'to the backbone' as an adverbial intensifier is metaphorical and not a fully regular, compositional pattern (and is less cross-linguistically consistent), so the meaning is only partially predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
To the backbone may come from the image of the body's backbone, the strong spine that holds you up. So if a feeling reaches the backbone it touches your very core, and saying someone is loyal to the backbone means they are loyal 'completely' or 'deeply'.