watch one's back
verb1
Literally To remain wary of being attacked from behind by surprise; to remain watchful to prevent a predictable attack from being a surprise.
- the kind of dive bar where you better watch your back
2
Figuratively To be wary of betrayal or an otherwise unexpected attack.
- the kind of office gossip that prompts you to watch your back
- Gotta watch my back now that you turned me around Got me walking backwards into my hometown2011, Gillian Welch, “The Way It Will Be”, in The Harrow & the Harvest, performed by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings:
- Synonyms
- check one's six, watch one's ass
- Related terms
- cover one's back, watch one's step