The idiom "stab someone in the back" means to betray or deceive someone who trusts you. It is used to describe a situation where someone does something harmful or hurtful to someone else, especially when they do it secretly or without warning.
For example, if you have a friend who confides in you and tells you a secret, but then you tell someone else that secret without their permission, you have "stabbed them in the back." Similarly, if you promise to help someone with something, but then you don't follow through and instead do something that harms them, you have also "stabbed them in the back."
This idiom is often used in situations where there is a breach of trust or loyalty. It can be used in personal relationships, such as friendships or romantic partnerships, as well as in professional or political contexts.
To avoid "stabbing someone in the back," it is important to be honest and transparent in your dealings with others, and to honor your commitments and promises. If you are unsure about something or feel like you cannot fulfill a promise, it is better to be upfront and communicate with the other person than to betray their trust.
• I can't believe she stabbed her friend in the back by telling her secret to everyone.
• The CEO of the company felt like he had been stabbed in the back when his trusted partner revealed a secret plan to the competitors.
• The journalist's article exposed the corrupt practices of the mayor, who had been stabbing his own people in the back for years.
• John felt betrayed when he found out that his best friend had stabbed him in the back by stealing his girlfriend.
• The politician was accused of stabbing his colleague in the back by spreading false rumors about him to gain advantage.
• It is not ethical to stab someone in the back and use their idea without giving them any credit.