back him up

USAGE SUMMARY

"back him up" is a valid phrase that can be used in written English.
It means to give support to someone, either verbally or with physical assistance. For example, "My friend was being bullied, so I decided to back him up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"The initial findings don't back him up".

The New York Times

The guys would back him up, of course.

The New Yorker

(Local news reports do not back him up on that).

The New York Times

"We're going to back him up," Pettitte said.

The New York Times - Sports

His handlers had to back him up, then coax him along.

The New York Times - Sports

And by one measure he has the facts to back him up, at least for now.

The New York Times

When he called it, I was able to turn and back him up".

The New York Times

Hopefully we'll all back him up on the weekend and deliver a performance for him".

BBC

The numbers don't exactly back him up, though.

Huffington Post

Have him copy it down, or back him up!

WikiHow

Help him out and back him up when you can.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "back him up" when you want to emphasize active support, either by providing evidence or directly assisting someone.

Common error

Avoid using "back him up" when passive agreement or acknowledgement is sufficient. Instead of saying "The agreement will back him up", consider "The agreement supports him" to better convey passive support.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "back him up" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating the act of providing support or reinforcement to someone. This support can be in the form of providing evidence, offering assistance, or defending their position. Ludwig examples show its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

8%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "back him up" is a common and grammatically correct phrasal verb that means to support or defend someone. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While suitable for neutral and informal communication, it is best to use more formal alternatives in academic or professional settings. The phrase suggests active support, such as providing evidence or direct assistance, making it a strong choice when you want to emphasize active reinforcement of someone's position.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

support him

General term; less specific than offering direct assistance or validation.

stand by him

Suggests unwavering support, especially during difficult times.

endorse him

Implies formal approval or public declaration of support.

give him my backing

Formal way of expressing support.

corroborate his story

Focuses on providing evidence to confirm the truth of his account.

defend his actions

Implies protecting him from criticism or attack.

verify his claims

Emphasizes confirming the accuracy of his statements with evidence.

validate his point

Emphasizes acknowledging and confirming the validity of his argument.

affirm his position

Expresses agreement with and reinforces his stance.

second his motion

Specifically used in formal meeting contexts to express agreement.

FAQs

What does it mean to "back someone up"?

To "back someone up" means to support or defend them, often by providing evidence or assistance. It implies active support rather than passive agreement.

What can I say instead of "back him up"?

You can use alternatives like "support him", "endorse him", or "stand by him" depending on the specific context.

Is "back him up" formal or informal?

"Back him up" is generally considered informal. In more formal settings, consider using phrases like "support his position" or "validate his claims".

How to use "back him up" in a sentence?

Example: "I'll "back him up" in the meeting by presenting the data that supports his proposal."