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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What Happens Next While the focus has shifted away from student visa-holding college campus protesters in recent months, Tuesday's ruling will likely have an impact on future visa revocations by an administration elected on the back of promises to carry out mass deportations.
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Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Celsius Holdings — The energy drink maker climbed nearly 4% on the back of Morgan Stanley's upgrade to overweight from equal weight.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Some have stickers on the back of their Tesla.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Both medical staffs for the Jets and Dolphins made their way quickly to Hill, who was put into an air cast and placed on the back of a cart.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
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Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Celsius Holdings — The energy drink maker climbed nearly 4% on the back of Morgan Stanley's upgrade to overweight from equal weight.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Some have stickers on the back of their Tesla.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Both medical staffs for the Jets and Dolphins made their way quickly to Hill, who was put into an air cast and placed on the back of a cart.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the back of
Cite this Entry
“On the back of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20back%20of. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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