on the back of

idiom

1
: because of or on the strength of (something)
Profits have increased on the back of improved international sales.
2
disapproving : by using the efforts of (other people)
The company has achieved record profits on the back of cheap labor.

Examples of on the back of in a Sentence

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Alexakis ordered the government last month to return the SUV to Chicago – this time on the back of a flatbed truck. Omar Jimenez, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025 In the end, Jones was lifted to victory on the back of a strong performance from the top of the Democratic ticket. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 Tap the spoon on the back of the pomegranate to help the seeds fall out. Merve Ceylan, Health, 5 Nov. 2025 Momentum looks poised to continue with Q4 guidance calling for +61% growth on the back of monumental bookings in Q3. Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for on the back of

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Cite this Entry

“On the back of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20back%20of. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.

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