Definition of scratch someone's back
informal
: to do something that helps someone else but that is often difficult to do or wrong and with the expectation of help in return
—usually used in the phrase You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours.
Comments on scratch someone's back
What made you want to look up scratch someone's back? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
A Thanksgiving Word Quiz
- November comes from a word for which of the following numbers?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share scratch someone's back