stab someone in the back
stab (one) in the back
To betray someone's confidence or trust. These companies all want to pretend like they're your friend, but they'll stab you in the back the moment it makes financial sense for them. The gangster's second in command stabbed him in the back to assume control over the entire criminal organization.
See also: back, stab
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
stab someone in the back
COMMON If someone that you trust stabs you in the back, they secretly do something which hurts and betrays you. She was incredibly disloyal. She would be your friend to your face, and then stab you in the back. She felt betrayed, as though her daughter had stabbed her in the back. Note: You can also talk about a stab in the back, meaning an action or remark which hurts and betrays someone. It's a stab in the back for all Manchester United fans. Note: You can also talk about back-stabbing, meaning talk or gossip which is intended to harm someone. People begin to avoid one another, take sides, be drawn into gossip and back-stabbing.
See also: back, someone, stab
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- stab (one) in the back
- stab somebody in the back
- make as if
- sell (one) down the river
- sell down the river
- sell somebody down the river
- sell someone down the river
- dark
- sell down the river, to
- eat (one's) young