Collocations for "backbone"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "backbone" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
backbone
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- Don't you have any backbone?
- Have some backbone!
- Show a little backbone!
- She has no backbone (at all).
- has enough backbone to [win through, succeed, try]
- is the backbone of the [company, manufacturing sector, nation]
- the [company's] backbone
- the [moral, social] backbone of this [company]
- [forms, makes up] the backbone of society
- [broke, shattered, severed] her backbone
- His backbone was injured in the [crash, accident].
- has to have his backbone [operated on, repaired]
- [sent, felt] shivers down his backbone
- felt (cold) sweat run down his backbone
- (digital) backbone [servers, networks, mainframes, connections]