Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ass-backwards

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.99 in modern English

Syllables: as-s-back-wards
IPA

24

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Oriented backwards, particularly after a mishap.

Colloquial

adj

Hopelessly misguided; contrary to what is normal, expected, or logical; having taken the utterly wrong choice.

Colloquial

adv

Moving backwards, that is, rear end first.

Colloquial

adv

In a hopelessly misguided manner; in a manner contrary to what is normal, expected, or logical.

Colloquial

Example Sentences

"The car spun out of control and I ended up ass-backwards in a ditch."
"No wonder it doesn't work. The whole design is ass-backwards."
"They did the whole design ass-backwards. No wonder it doesn't work."

Etymology

Recorded in the US in the 1930s. From ass + backwards

Usage

Colloquial

Inflected Forms

more ass-backwards (comparative) most ass-backwards (superlative) ass backwards (alternative) ass-backward (alternative) ass backward (alternative) back-asswards (alternative) backasswards (alternative) bass-ackwards (alternative) bassackwards (alternative)

Phrases

put the cart before the horse

Frequently Paired Words

put the cart before the horse preposterous

Questions

What does ass-backwards mean?: Oriented backwards, particularly after a mishap.
Where does ass-backwards come from?: Recorded in the US in the 1930s. From ass + backwards

How to pronounce ass-backwards

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