back-scratchingn.
colloquial.
The performance of mutual services; always with the suggestion of doubt as to the legitimacy of the transactions. (See also back-scratcher n. at Derivatives, scratching n.2, back-scratching at back- comb. form 1a(a)(ii).)
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > co-operation > [noun] > performance of mutual services
back-scratching1924
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > types of help > [noun] > mutual assistance
mutual aid1537
giff-gaff1549
giff-gaffing1606
log-rolling1823
back-scratching1924
1924 P. C. Macfarlane Tongues of Flame xxv. 223 ‘That is the modern method of bribery, you know—back-scratching,’ she frowned savagely. ‘“We've scratched your back; now you scratch ours.” That's the system.’
1933 Punch 24 May 567/1 Mr. Hugh Walpole made the startling suggestion that contemporary criticism occasionally showed symptoms of degenerating into mutual back-scratching.
Derivatives
ˈback-ˌscratcher n.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > a companion or associate > [noun] > one who exchanges favours
log-roller1821
back-scratcher1897
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > types of help > [noun] > mutual assistance > one who
log-roller1821
back-scratcher1897
1897 Daily News 9 Jan. 4/7 Does it not rather partake of the ethics of the back-scratcher and the log-roller?
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
> as lemmas
back-scratching
(ii) With verbal noun, forming substantives, as back-breaking, back-scratching.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > [noun] > breaking of back
back-breaking1787
1787 J. Bentham Let. 9–20 Feb. in Corr. (1971) III. 522 Back-breaking, which is the death of so many vessels.
1884 Good Words June 400/2 Having borne himself so lubberly over his ‘back-scratching.’
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n.1897as lemmas