back into

back into (someone or something)

1. To move or maneuver something backwards into something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "back" and "into." Can you help me? I'm having a hard time backing into this parking space. Ugh, I can't believe I backed my car into that pole.
2. To bump into or strike someone or something while moving backwards. Oops, I didn't mean to back into you—didn't see you there!
3. In sports, to secure a position in the postseason due to the loss of another team, as opposed to the victory of one's own. The team had suffered four straight losses at the end of the season, but thanks to the poor performance of their division rivals, they ended up backing into the playoffs anyway.
See also: back
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

back someone or something into someone or something

to guide or move someone or something backwards into someone or something. Don't back your car into anyone. Using hand signals, the attendant backed all the cars into the parking spaces.
See also: back

back into someone or something

to move backwards, bumping into someone or something; to move a car backwards into something, such as a garage or a parking space. (See also back someone or something into someone or something.) I'm sorry. I didn't mean to back into you. I backed into the potted plant.
See also: back
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • add in
  • all right
  • a/the feel of (something)
  • (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
  • a straw will show which way the wind blows
  • a crack at (someone or something)
  • (you) wanna make something of it?
  • all for the best
  • a thing of the past
  • a slew of (something)
References in classic literature
Joe sat on the stool, leaning far back into the corner, head thrown back and arms outstretched on the ropes to give easy expansion to the chest.
The Game
A recess in the wall was at my left hand, in which I could instantly hide myself, if he showed any signs of looking back into the corridor.
The Moonstone
A wave of shyness pulled him back into the dark angle of the wall, and he stood there in silence instead of making his presence known to her.
Ethan Frome
Beaten back on to the deck of his own vessel, and closely followed by a dozen Englishmen, he disengaged himself from them, ran swiftly down the deck, sprang back into the cog once more, cut the rope which held the anchor, and was back in an instant among his crossbow-men.
The White Company
Then we can come back into Oakland from the other side, sneak across on the ferry, and send the machine back around to-night with the chauffeur."
Burning Daylight
And not only did Borckman sense it, but it served as a spur to drive him back into primitive beastliness, and to fight to master this puppy as a primitive man, under dissimilar provocation, might have fought with the members of the first litter stolen from a wolf-den among the rocks.
He had leaped back into the dark stark rawness of the early world almost as swiftly as had Borckman.
Jerry of the Islands
He was sounding the deeps of his nature, and of the parts of his nature that were deeper than he, going back into the womb of Time.
The Call of the Wild
Lop-Ear, who was shivering and peeping alongside of me, scrambled back into the cave.
Before Adam
He dropped gradually back into his old frivolous and easygoing ways and conditions of feeling and manner of speech, and no familiar of his could have detected anything in him that differentiated him from the weak and careless Tom of other days.
Puddnhead Wilson
I didn't want to go back there--it would seem like going back into the chill and dreariness of the old life again.
Annes House of Dreams
What our father's hand is saying, when it raises up like this, all it is saying to us is, You boys be sure to remember to clean up out here before you come back into the house.
The Hands That Hold the Hammer
For example, a coach who has to make use of the 2-1-2 full-court press ("3 Press") and then fall back into a 2-3 half-court zone (the # 2), would have a simple defensive call-"32."
The full court zone press and its multiple stunts: part III, the 2-1-2 press
Release and bring both arms back into a neutral position.
Warming yoga poses for cold winter days
After the 1999 hurricanes in North Carolina, they let people back into some of those houses after they put in new sheetrock, and the results were disastrous.
What the hurricane revealed: organizers in New Orleans look at the long fight ahead