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Glite Dictionary
to watch each other's back

to watch each other's back

4 4.1
Look out for each other in dangerous situations
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : cuidarse mutuamente
  • And we gotta watch each other's backs.

Examples

Synonyms

to watch over
vsto watch each other's back
145 2.3

To look after someone or something to keep them safe

is mutual vigilant protection by staying alert together rather than one-sided supervision
to support each other
vsto watch each other's back
20 2.6

To help and encourage each other during difficult times

focuses on mutual protection by staying alert to dangers rather than encouragement
to keep safe
vsto watch each other's back
9 1.8

To protect people or things from danger

is mutual active protection through alertness rather than only preventing harm
to have (someone's) back
vsto watch each other's back
  • Informal
4.1

Support and protect someone in hard times

show mutual readiness to protect by staying alert to possible dangers

Antonyms

to betray
397 4.2

Let someone down when they need you

Surface Forms

watch each other's back infinitive
watched each other's back past
watched each other's back past participle
watching each other's back present participle
watches each other's back third person singular

Morphology

watch + each + other + back

The meaning is directly recoverable from 'watch' (to guard/keep an eye on) combined with 'each other's back' (mutual possession of 'back' implying protection/support), so a B1 learner who knows the words can infer mutual protection. The use of 'back' as a metaphor for support/protection is common cross-linguistically and follows a straightforward compositional pattern rather than an arbitrary idiom.

Etymology

Watch each other's back comes from the simple image of two people standing close and literally watching the other person's back so no one can surprise them from behind. So, it means 'to protect or support each other'.