Back bench
any of the rows of seats occupied by the backbenchers.
Contemporary Examples
All the bed wetters and second guessers are now weighing in from the back bench.
In Defense of Clint Eastwood: Oddity Aside, GOP Convention Succeeded Mark McKinnon August 30, 2012
Historical Examples
The luckless form of the youthful Lawkins, pale and scared, rose from a back bench.
The Willoughby Captains Talbot Baines Reed
Seated among a crowd of workmen on a back bench I was one of his audience.
Doctor Therne H. Rider Haggard
He seated himself as near to the door as he could, on the end of the back bench, already crowded.
The New Warden Mrs. David G. Ritchie
I succeed in removing the back bench and sit on the bottom, where I am somewhat protected from the cutting wind.
Trans-Himalaya, Vol. 1 (of 2) Sven Hedin
A single voice from a back bench sang it once like a lone frog in a far pool.
A Diversity of Creatures Rudyard Kipling
He did so, but in doing it announced that he should return and take his seat, which he did, seating himself on a back bench.
Charles Bradlaugh: a Record of His Life and Work, Volume II (of 2) Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner and J. M. (John Mackinnon) Robertson
“Reminds me of days that are no more,” said the Member for Sark, looking on animated scene from modest quarters on a back bench.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 146, March 18, 1914 Various
He pointed with his finger to a group of three men high up on a back bench—Dillworth, Champion and Tomlin.
Sonia Between two Worlds Stephen McKenna
He sat on the back bench, and what he wanted to know was something about the infinite.
An Edinburgh Eleven J. M. Barrie
Read Also:
- Backbencher
any of the members of a legislature, especially of the House of Commons of Great Britain, but not including the leaders of the parties. Contemporary Examples In truth, Gingrich was a backbencher during the Reagan years, lobbing bombshells at the White House in addition to Democrats. Reagan’s Party No More Eleanor Clift August 31, 2011 […]
- Backbend
an acrobatic feat in which one bends backward from a standing position until one’s hands touch the floor. noun a gymnastic exercise in which the trunk is bent backwards until the hands touch the floor
- Backbite
to attack the character or reputation of (a person who is not present). to speak unfavorably or slanderously of a person who is not present. Historical Examples backbite (Sir Benjamin), nephew of Crabtree, very conceited, and very censorious. Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol 1 The Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. The […]
- Backblocks
the outback: They live in the backblocks. Historical Examples They come down from the backblocks with perhaps a hundred pounds to spend on a week of blissful unconsciousness. Captivity M. Leonora Eyles You’ll be jolly glad to get rid of me and be off with the uncle into the backblocks. Captivity M. Leonora Eyles In […]
- Backboard
a board placed at or forming the back of anything. Basketball. a board or other flat vertical surface to which the basket is attached. Contemporary Examples Ramos was still showing no signs of life when they got him on a backboard and into the ambulance. ‘Please Don’t Die!’: The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops […]