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You are here: Home / Language / Where does the phrase “to back water” come from and What does back water mean?

Where does the phrase “to back water” come from and What does back water mean?

March 21, 2020 by Karen Hill

Literally, the phrase “to back water” was said of a ship, boat, canoe, or the like, to which the paddle wheel was reversed, or the oars or paddles were moved backward.

Hence, figuratively, one is said to back water when obliged to retract a statement or reverse a position or withdraw from a situation.

The expression dates from the early days of the steamboat, the early nineteenth century.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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