backbone
US
/ˈbækˌboʊn/
UK
/ˈbækbəʊn/
Meaning
The courage and strength of character needed to do what is right or difficult.
किसी सही या मुश्किल काम के लिए ज़रूरी हिम्मत और अपने फैसले पर टिके रहने की ताकत।
Examples
“It takes backbone to challenge an unfair decision in front of your colleagues.”
“She showed real backbone by defending the new employee from unfair criticism.”
“The committee had the backbone to reject a popular but harmful proposal.”
Useful patterns
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Common mistakes
Not natural: She had backbone to speak up at the meeting.
Better: She had the backbone to speak up at the meeting.
In this expression, backbone is usually preceded by the; use the backbone to do something.
इस expression में backbone से पहले आमतौर पर the आता है: the backbone to do something।
Not natural: He backbone and told his manager the truth.
Better: He showed backbone and told his manager the truth.
Backbone is a noun, so use a verb such as show or have before it.
Backbone एक noun है, इसलिए इसके साथ show या have जैसी verb लगाएँ।
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Learner tip
In this figurative sense, backbone means courage and resolve—not simply confidence or physical strength.
इस figurative अर्थ में backbone का मतलब हिम्मत और दृढ़ता है—सिर्फ आत्मविश्वास या शारीरिक ताकत नहीं।