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backscratch

To scratch one's or another's back.

ˈbækˌskɹæt͡ʃCurrent108 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
3 definitions
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Definitions

#1·Apr 26, 2026

To scratch one's or another's back.

He enjoyed being hugged, backscratched, and tickled and sat quietly next to the examiner after testing while a parental interview was conducted.
Heard in the wild
  • “【5/5 当店ポイント10倍】検定用品 ラップ バックスクラッチャーズ BACKSCRATCH... 価格: 1,980円”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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#2·Apr 26, 2026

A scratch on the back.

Several Colorado papers have reproduced the substance of our articles on silver, and we thank them for their backscratches.
For parents

"backscratch" means: A scratch on the back.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"backscratch" means: A scratch on the back.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

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#3·Apr 26, 2026

(business, politics, slang) To engage in a reciprocal beneficial action.

So it is to the mutual advantage of social primates to backscratch for each other.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

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