behind my back

USAGE SUMMARY

"behind my back" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a situation where someone is talking or acting in a way that is not known to the person about whom they are talking or acting. For example: "I heard my boss talking about me behind my back, and I was not happy about it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I talk about myself behind my back".

The New Yorker

"Everyone is going behind my back.

The New York Times - Sports

Some 46 million Ukrainians will be behind my back.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"I can catch the baton behind my back and everything".

The New Yorker

He's hooked up with some woman behind my back.

The New Yorker

Carolyn Hax: My boyfriend got married behind my back.

The Washington Post

I can't see what it's doing behind my back.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"They tied my hands to my feet behind my back.

The Guardian

"They took it all out behind my back," she said.

The New York Times

Do not talk behind my back any more".

The Guardian - Opinion

"It's like, my hands are tied behind my back.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "behind my back" to clearly indicate that actions, conversations, or decisions occurred without your knowledge or consent, emphasizing the element of secrecy or betrayal.

Common error

Avoid using "behind my back" when the action was simply not communicated to you but was not necessarily intended to be secret or malicious. Ensure the context genuinely implies hidden intent or action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "behind my back" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the manner in which an action was performed. It suggests that an action was carried out secretly or without the knowledge or consent of the person being referred to. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "behind my back" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something has been done without your knowledge or consent, often with a negative connotation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase effectively conveys secrecy or a lack of transparency. The phrase is frequently used in "News & Media", "Science", and "Formal & Business" contexts, highlighting its versatility across different registers. When writing, be mindful of the context to ensure that the phrase accurately reflects the intended meaning of hidden actions or conversations. Alternatives like "unbeknownst to me" or ""without my knowledge"" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without my knowledge

Directly states that the action occurred without the speaker being informed

unbeknownst to me

Emphasizes lack of awareness; highlights that something happened without the speaker's knowledge

in secret

Simple and direct way to express that something was done clandestinely

clandestinely

Emphasizes the covert nature of the action, suggesting it was carefully concealed

secretly

Focuses on the hidden nature of the action or communication

surreptitiously

Highlights the stealthy and secretive manner in which the action was performed

in my absence

Indicates that the actions occurred while the speaker was not present

on the sly

Informal way of saying something was done secretly or discreetly

behind my shield

Metaphorically indicates an action or communication happened with the intention to remain unknown.

under the radar

Suggests that the action occurred unnoticed or without attracting attention

FAQs

How can I use "behind my back" in a sentence?

Use "behind my back" to describe actions or conversations that occurred without your knowledge or consent. For example, "I found out they were planning changes "without my knowledge"".

What are some alternatives to "behind my back"?

Alternatives include phrases like "unbeknownst to me", ""without my knowledge"", or "secretly", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative to say something happened "behind my back"?

Typically, saying something happened "behind my back" implies a negative connotation, suggesting secrecy, betrayal, or a lack of trust. However, the specific context can influence the degree of negativity.

What's the difference between "behind my back" and "in my absence"?

"Behind my back" emphasizes the element of secrecy or hidden intent, while "in my absence" simply indicates that something occurred when you were not present, without necessarily implying secrecy.