What does dos in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word dos in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use dos in French.

The word dos in French means back, back, spine, on [animal]back, on horseback, be a convenient scapegoat, be a convenient whipping boy, have a bad back, have backache, lower back, It sends shivers down your spine, talk about behind his/her back, do your back in, knife in the back, behind 's back, from behind, from the back, talk about behind his/her back, speak ill of behind his/her back, send shivers down 's spine, send shivers down the spine of, back-to-back, back to the wall, backstroke, cod loin, red mullet loin, halterneck, backless, speed bump, speed hump, be sick to the back teeth (of ), be sick and tired of, lying flat on your back, be lying on your back, have your back turned (to ), be turned away (from ), have your back to the wall, be on, be on 's back, do behind 's back, send shivers down your spine, make the beast with two backs, let wash over you, arch your back, have broad shoulders, get pregnant without knowing, get pregnant without 's consent, pull the wool over 's eyes, have a baby behind 's back, trick into making you pregnant, trick into getting you pregnant, do something behind 's back, back-scratcher, put on, swim the backstroke, do the backstroke, not go in for half measures, not do things by halves, stab in the back, stabbed in the back, stab in the back, humpback bridge, perfect binding, rucksack, backpack, get on 's nerves, put your back out, set against you, on your back, on your back, in kind, turn your back to , turn your back on, turn your back on, turn your back on, go backpacking. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word dos

back

nom masculin (partie opposée au ventre)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Ce perchiste est retombé sur le dos.

The pole-vaulter fell on his back.

back

nom masculin (arrière de [qch])

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Les réponses se trouvent au dos du questionnaire.

The answers are on the back of the questionnaire.

spine

nom masculin (plus petit côté d'un livre) (of a book)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Le numéro du tome est indiqué sur le dos des livres.

on [animal]back

(sur le dos de) (horse)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Que penses-tu d'une balade à dos de poney ? // Dans les Andes, tout se portait à dos de lama.

on horseback

locution adverbiale (montant un cheval)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

On s'est promené à dos de cheval.

be a convenient scapegoat, be a convenient whipping boy

locution adverbiale (figuré (servir d'excuse)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have a bad back, have backache

locution verbale (souffrir du dos)

Je ne peux pas t'aider à déménager parce que j'ai mal au dos.

lower back

nom masculin (région lombaire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

It sends shivers down your spine

(expression d'angoisse, de peur)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

talk about behind his/her back

(familier (critiquer [qqn] absent)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

do your back in

locution verbale (faire mal au dos) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

knife in the back

nom masculin (figuré (trahison)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Cette déclaration lui a fait l'effet d'un coup de couteau dans le dos.

behind 's back

locution adverbiale (familier (de façon fourbe) (figurative)

ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. She is always talking about people behind their back.

from behind, from the back

locution adverbiale (dont on ne voit que le dos)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

talk about behind his/her back, speak ill of behind his/her back

(médire de [qqn] auprès d'autres)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

send shivers down 's spine, send shivers down the spine of

(effrayer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Cette histoire donne des frisons dans le dos aux enfants !

back-to-back

locution adverbiale (dos contre dos, sans se voir)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

Les duellistes se sont mis dos à dos, ont fait cinq pas puis se sont retournés et se sont tiré dessus.

back to the wall

(face à la vérité) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Convoqué par le proviseur, ils avaient le dos au mur.

backstroke

nom masculin (type de nage) (swimming)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Les nageurs de dos crawlé ont les épaules très développées.

cod loin

nom masculin (chair du dos du cabillaud) (fish)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

red mullet loin

nom masculin (plat de poisson)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

halterneck

nom masculin invariable (vêtement laissant le dos dénudé) (strap around neck)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

backless

locution adjectivale (vêtement : laissant le dos dénudé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

speed bump, speed hump

nom masculin invariable (route : ralentisseur)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Les dos-d'âne forcent les voitures à ralentir.

be sick to the back teeth (of ), be sick and tired of

locution verbale (familier (en avoir assez) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

lying flat on your back

locution adjectivale (couché sur le dos)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

La victime s'est retrouvée devant la voiture, étendue sur le dos.

be lying on your back

locution verbale (être allongé sur le dos)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have your back turned (to ), be turned away (from )

locution verbale (tourner le dos) (person)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Il était de dos, on ne voyait pas son visage

His back was turned; we couldn't see his face.

have your back to the wall

locution verbale (ne plus pouvoir reculer, mentir) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Dénoncé par ses camarades, il ne peut plus mentir : il est dos au mur.

Given away by his friends, he couldn't lie anymore; he had his back to the wall.

be on

(péjoratif (être à la charge de [qqn]) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be on 's back

(péjoratif (embêter [qqn]) (figurative, informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Mes parents me fatiguent à être constamment sur mon dos.

do behind 's back

locution verbale (faire [qch] à l'insu de qcn) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Ils ont conclu un accord commercial dans le dos de leur associé.

send shivers down your spine

locution verbale (faire très peur)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Cette terrible nouvelle fait froid dans le dos.

The story was so frightening it sent shivers down her spine.

make the beast with two backs

locution verbale (familier (sexe : faire l'amour) (dated or humorous)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

let wash over you

locution verbale (figuré (laisser passer une difficulté) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

L'enfant a fait le dos rond en attendant que la colère de sa mère s’apaise.

arch your back

locution verbale (animal : relever le dos)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Quand il a vu le chien, le chat a fait le gros dos.

When it saw the dog, the cat arched its back.

have broad shoulders

locution verbale (figuré (se taire et attendre) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

get pregnant without knowing, get pregnant without 's consent

(péjoratif (être enceinte à l'insu de son partenaire)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

pull the wool over 's eyes

(figuré, figuré (cacher [qch] de défavorable à [qqn]) (figurative, informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have a baby behind 's back

(figuré (faire un bébé sans avertir le père)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

trick into making you pregnant, trick into getting you pregnant

locution verbale (péjoratif (être enceinte à l'insu de son partenaire)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Lucie lui a fait un enfant dans le dos pour le forcer à se marier et obtenir sa nationalité.

do something behind 's back

locution verbale (figuré, péjoratif (cacher [qch] de défavorable à [qqn]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

back-scratcher

nom masculin invariable (grattoir pour dos)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Il y a toujours un gratte-dos dans sa douche.

put on

(figuré (blâmer [qqn]) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

swim the backstroke, do the backstroke

locution verbale (nager avec la tête vers le haut)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

not go in for half measures, not do things by halves

locution verbale (familier (employer les grands moyens)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

stab in the back

(figuré (prendre [qqn] par traîtrise) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

stabbed in the back

adjectif (figuré (trahi) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

stab in the back

locution verbale (figuré (trahir) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

humpback bridge

nom masculin (type de pont)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Un pont en dos-d'âne est constitué de deux pentes opposées.

perfect binding

nom féminin (type de reliure plate)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

rucksack, backpack

nom masculin (bagage dorsal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Les sacs à dos sont très pratiques pour les randonnées.

get on 's nerves

(argot (ennuyer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

put your back out

(se coincer le dos)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

set against you

locution verbale (se faire un ennemi de [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Il s'est mis sa mère à dos.

on your back

locution adverbiale (position : la tête vers le haut) (position)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Allonge-toi sur le dos et regarde les nuages.

on your back

locution adverbiale (porté sur le dos)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Ça m'a ému de voir mon petit garçon partir à l'école pour la première fois avec son cartable sur le dos.

in kind

locution adverbiale (figuré (en nature)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

N'ayant pas réussi à négocier d'augmentation, cet employé s'est octroyé quelques avantages sur le dos de la bête.

turn your back to , turn your back on

(regarder dans la direction opposée) (movement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Ne me tourne pas le dos quand je te parle ! Je n'ai pas vu le livreur arriver car je tournais le dos à la porte.

I didn't see the delivery driver arrive, because I had my back turned to the door.

turn your back on

(figuré (ne plus s'intéresser à [qch]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Julien a tourné le dos au cyclisme à cause du dopage.

turn your back on

(figuré (laisser tomber [qqn]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Diane a tourné le dos à Damien à cause des mauvaises fréquentations de celui-ci.

go backpacking

locution verbale (voyager avec un sac à dos)

Pendant les vacances, nous voyagerons sac au dos.

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