student asking question

What does "watch one's back" mean?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Watch your back" is a phrase that means "be careful" or "protect yourself", because something bad might happen to you. If someone says "watch your back" to you, they either are worried about something harming you, or they are threatening you (because they might do something harmful to you). "Watch my back" means you are protecting yourself and being careful, or is a request for someone else to protect you. Ex: Watch your back, I think someone has been following you. ("Watch your back" said because someone is worried) Ex: You should watch your back, you don't know what I might do. ("Watch your back" said as a threat) Ex: I watch my back at work to make sure nobody steals my ideas. ("Watch my back" said to show protecting yourself) Ex: Can you watch my back, I don't feel safe. ("Watch my back" said requesting for someone to protect you)

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