the small of the/one's back
idiom
: the lower part of the back that is smaller and narrower than the rest
I felt a sharp pain in the small of my back.
Examples of the small of the/one's back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Gaynes recommends applying it on the most intimate parts of the body: behind the knees, the crease at the elbow, the nape of the neck, and the small of the back.
—
Venus Wong, Refinery29, 1 Apr. 2025
Schar and Duran had stretched for a loose ball and the Newcastle centre-half had slid in to win it, with Duran first catching him on the buttock and then in the small of the back.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
Activate the abdomen by tilting the pelvis and pressing the small of the back into the ground.
—Enrica Petraglia, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2024
The vest falls right at the waist, and the detachable five-layer foam seat flips up and securely out of the way at the small of the back for a no-bulk design.
—Justin Park, Popular Mechanics, 25 May 2023
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Venus Wong, Refinery29, 1 Apr. 2025
Schar and Duran had stretched for a loose ball and the Newcastle centre-half had slid in to win it, with Duran first catching him on the buttock and then in the small of the back.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
Activate the abdomen by tilting the pelvis and pressing the small of the back into the ground.
—Enrica Petraglia, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2024
The vest falls right at the waist, and the detachable five-layer foam seat flips up and securely out of the way at the small of the back for a no-bulk design.
—Justin Park, Popular Mechanics, 25 May 2023
Cite this Entry
“The small of the/one's back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20small%20of%20the%2Fone%27s%20back. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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