scratch someone's back

idiom

informal
: to do something that helps someone else but that is often difficult to do or wrong and with the expectation of help in return
usually used in the phrase You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours.

Dictionary Entries Near scratch someone's back

Cite this Entry

“Scratch someone's back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scratch%20someone%27s%20back. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!