live off the backs of (someone)

to use what other people produce in order to live, without giving them anything in exchange.

He was one of the wealthiest dictators of all time and he lived off the backs of the people.

• on the fritz
• on the front burner
• on the front line of
• on the front line of something
• on the front lines of
• on the front lines of something
• on the heels of
• on the heels of something
• on the hoof
• on the horizon
• on the horns of a dilemma
• on the hour
• on the house
• on the job
• on the lam
• on the level
• on the line
• on the loose
• on the margins of
• on the margins of something
• on the market
• on the mend
• on the merits
• on the money
• on the move